title: Supporting Treatment decision making to Optimise the Prevention of STROKE in Atrial Fibrillation: the STOP STROKE in AF study. Protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suboptimal uptake of anticoagulation for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation has persisted for over 20 years, despite high-level evidence demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing the risk of fatal and disabling stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  The STOP STROKE in AF study is a national, cluster randomised controlled trial designed to improve the uptake of anticoagulation in primary care. General practitioners from around Australia enrolling in this 'distance education' program are mailed written educational materials, followed by an academic detailing session delivered via telephone by a medical peer, during which participants discuss patient de-identified cases. General practitioners are then randomised to receive written specialist feedback about the patient de-identified cases either before or after completing a three-month posttest audit. Specialist feedback is designed to provide participants with support and confidence to prescribe anticoagulation. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients with atrial fibrillation receiving oral anticoagulation at the time of the posttest audit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The STOP STROKE in AF study aims to evaluate a feasible intervention via distance education to prevent avoidable stroke due to atrial fibrillation. It provides a systematic test of augmenting academic detailing with expert feedback about patient management.
authors: Ingham Institute, Liverpool, Australia.
authors: Melina
authors: M
authors: Gattellari
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Worthington
authors: Dominic Y
authors: DY
authors: Leung
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Zwar
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001315:Australia; D003657:Decision Making; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants