Stroke Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Stroke, including details on treatment, recovery, rehabilitation, signs, symptoms.

Barriers to the use of anticoagulation for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: a representative survey of Australian family physicians.

Gattellari M, Worthington J, Zwar N, Middleton S

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Anticoagulation reduces the risk of stroke in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation yet remains underused. We explored barriers to the use of anticoagulants among Australian family physicians. METHODS: The authors conducted a representative, national survey. RESULTS: Of the 596 (64.4%) eligible family physicians who participated, 15.8% reported having a patient with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation experience an intracranial hemorrhage with anticoagulation and 45.8% had a patient with known nonvalvular atrial fibrillation experience a stroke without anticoagulation. When presented with a patient at "very high risk" of stroke, only 45.6% of family physicians selected warfarin in the presence of a minor falls risk and 17.1% would anticoagulate if the patient had a treated peptic ulcer. Family physicians with less decisional conflict and longer-standing practices were more likely to endorse anticoagulation. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to optimize the management of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation should address psychological barriers to using anticoagulation.

Published 27 December 2007 in Stroke, 39(1): 227-30.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Stroke Research Today. All Rights Reserved.