Patients’ Experiences of Living with Atrial Fibrillation: A Mixed Methods Study

Table 2

Results from the Arrhythmia-Specific Questionnaire in Tachycardia and Arrhythmia, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Control Attitudes Scale, and the Short-Form 36 items.

Questionnaires N = 18	Scale score, median values (25^th–75^th)
ASTA 9-item symptom scale	9.5 (6.8–14)
ASTA 13-item HRQOL scale	14.5 (10.8–21.5)
HADS anxiety scale	3.5 (1.8–8.3)
HADS depression scale	3.5 (2.0–7.5)
CAS helplessness scale	7.5 (5.3–10)
CAS perceived control scale	6.5 (4–8)
SF-36 8 scales
Physical functioning	77.5 (60–91.3)
Role-physical	50 (0.0–81.3)
Bodily pain	84 (65.5–100)
General health	67 (37.5–72)
Vitality	47.5 (23.8–65)
Social functioning	81.3 (25–100)
Role-emotional	100 (33.3–100)
Mental health	82 (64–89)

Median values are presented with 25th to 75th percentiles within brackets. ASTA = Arrhythmia-Specific Questionnaire in Tachycardia and Arrhythmia. Each score in the ASTA symptom and the ASTA health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scales ranges between 0–27 and 0–39 respectively, where a higher score indicates higher symptom burden and/or a worse effect on HRQOL. SF-36 = Short-Form 36 items. The scores in the eight scales of the SF-36 range between 0 and 100, where 0 represents worst possible health and 100 the best possible health. HADS = Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The two sections assess anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D). The score for each subscale ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores reflecting more psychological distress. CAS = Control Attitudes Scale. The scale consists of two items about perceived control and two about helplessness. Two items reflect patients’ own perceptions and two reflect patients’ perception about family members’ perceived control. Scores range between 1 and 7, and the total scale scores range between 4 and 28, where higher scores indicate greater perceived control.