title: EHRA research network surveys: 6 years of EP wires activity.
abstract: Clinical practice should follow guidelines and recommendations mainly based on the results of controlled trials, which are often conducted in selected populations and special conditions, whereas clinical practice may be influenced by factors different from controlled scientific studies. Hence, the real-world setting is better assessed by the observational registries enrolling patients for longer periods of time. However, this may be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming. In 2009, the Scientific Initiatives Committee of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) has instigated a series of surveys covering the controversial issues in clinical electrophysiology (EP). With this in mind, an EHRA EP research network has been created, which included EP centres in Europe among which the surveys on 'hot topic' were circulated. This review summarizes the overall experience conducting EP wires over the past 6 years, categorizing and assessing the topics regarding clinical EP, and evaluating the acceptance and feedback from the responding centres, in order to improve participation in the surveys and better address the research needs and aspirations of the European EP community.
authors.affiliation: CardioThoracic and Vascular Department, University Hospital, Pisa, Italy m.g.bongiorni@med.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bongiorni
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, Haukeland University Hospital, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Second Cardiology Department, Attikon University Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dagres
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU Klinikum der Universität München, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Estner
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Ramon y Cajal Hospital, Alcalá University, CarreteraColmenar Viejo, Madrid 28034, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Madrid
authors.affiliation: HôpitalCardiologique du Haut Lévêque Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux II, Bordeaux, Pessac 33604, France.
authors.forename: Meleze
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hocini
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Centre, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Torben Bjerregaard
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pison
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia and Cardiology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Potpara
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University Hospital S. Maria della Misericordia, IRCAB Foundation Udine, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Proclemer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Institution of Medical Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sciaraffia
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Medicine and Science Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: Derick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Institution of Medical Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blomstrom-Lundqvist
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005060:Europe; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007391:International Cooperation; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Cardiac implantable electronic devices; Clinical practice; EHRA network; EP wire; Electrophysiology; Survey