title: Patients' and Physicians' Perceptions Regarding the Benefits of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is unclear whether patients and physicians understand that atrial fibrillation ablation (AFA) has been shown to only improve symptomology and not reduce morbidity or mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Note that 177 of 445 (40%) consecutive patients referred to an electrophysiology clinic for atrial fibrillation (AF) management responded anonymously to our survey via mail. Note that 105 of 656 (15%) physicians responded to our survey via email. Comparisons among groups were conducted using χ2test for categorical variables. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated by using a multivariate logistic regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost half of patients and physicians believed AF ablation (AFA) would eliminate the need for anticoagulation (43% vs. 44%, P > 0.05) while the majority of both groups believed AFA would improve survival (58% vs. 67%, P = 0.308). The great majority of both groups believed AFA would decrease stroke rates (89% vs. 80%, P = 0.106). When comparing noncardiologists (n = 86) to cardiologists (n = 19), noncardiologists were more likely to believe that an AFA would eliminate the need for anticoagulation 49% vs. 21% (X = 4.9, P = 0.04), improve survival 80% vs. 11% (X = 30.2, P < 0.001), and decrease stroke 87% vs. 44% (X = 15.6, P < 0.001), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The perceived benefit of AFA by patients and physicians is not supported by the medical literature. It is the responsibility of the electrophysiology community to educate patients and referring physicians regarding the true benefits of AFA. In addition, our study displays the great need for long-term clinical trials examining the impact AFA has on morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois.
authors.forename: Auroa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badin
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois.
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Parr
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banga
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois.
authors.forename: Rebecca R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wigant
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois.
authors.forename: Timir S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Baman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Benefits of ablation; ablation; atrial fibrillation; perception