My research: a PhD student explains
Caroline Matilde Elnegaard
The purpose of the thesis is to explore how rehabilitation for people with atrial fibrillation can be delivered, and how patients’ needs and preferences can be identified.
What is the title of your thesis?
Municipality-based prevention and rehabilitation as part of integrated care for people with atrial fibrillation: What does it take?
At which department and/or research unit did you complete your PhD?
I have completed my PhD studies at the Department of Regional Health Research (IRS), Research Unit of Cardiology, Esbjerg Hospital.
Who was your principal supervisor?
Axel Brandes, clinical professor.
What question did you aim to answer with your thesis?
How can rehabilitation for people with atrial fibrillation be delivered, and how can patients’ needs and preferences be identified?
What did you find?
The research showed that prevention and rehabilitation for people with atrial fibrillation can be delivered in a municipality-based setting and are perceived as meaningful by participants. At the same time, the findings revealed that rehabilitation needs vary considerably between individuals, and that many have multiple needs.
We developed a systematic model to identify rehabilitation needs across 12 different domains. In a nationwide study, we found that particularly many patients had needs related to physical exercise, dietary counselling, and patient education.
Another key finding was that patients’ own preferences for rehabilitation did not always align with their identified needs. This highlights the importance of combining a systematic assessment of rehabilitation needs with the consideration of patients’ preferences when planning and tailoring rehabilitation.
How did you do it?
The PhD project consisted of three studies using different methodological approaches.
First, we conducted a study involving 43 people with atrial fibrillation to investigate the feasibility of delivering a municipality-based prevention and rehabilitation programme in practice and to explore participants’ experiences of the programme.
Next, we developed a model for the systematic assessment of rehabilitation needs through a consensus process involving healthcare professionals, researchers, and people with atrial fibrillation.
Finally, we applied the model in a nationwide study using data from questionnaires and national registries. We examined rehabilitation needs and patient preferences among more than 12,000 people with atrial fibrillation.
How can your research be applied (in the clinic, society, etc.)?
My research can contribute to making prevention and rehabilitation a more systematic part of atrial fibrillation care.
The developed model can be used as a tool to identify individual rehabilitation needs and support dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals about relevant rehabilitation services. This may help ensure that rehabilitation is better tailored to each individual's needs, preferences, and life circumstances.
At a broader level, the findings can inform hospitals, municipalities, and policymakers in planning and developing rehabilitation services for people with atrial fibrillation.
The research highlights the importance of shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals as a foundation for individually tailored rehabilitation that considers both identified needs and patients' own preferences.