Pharmacist Education to Help Atrial Fibrillation Patients Take Blood Thinners
Tests pharmacist-led education in adults with atrial fibrillation taking blood-thinning medication.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: A Pharmacist-Led Education Program to Improve Adherence to Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Key facts
- Where
- Taipei, TaiwanSee the site
Where in Taiwan
- National Taiwan University HospitalTaipei, TaiwanNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- National Taiwan University
- Trial code
- NCT07159399
- Record updated
- 8 September 2025
- Original description
Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) increases the risk of stroke, and patients are commonly treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). However, when patients do not take these medications regularly, the drugs may not work effectively, increasing health risks.Read full original descriptionShow less
Impact of a Pharmacist-Led Education Program on Medication Adherence and Treatment Effectiveness of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) increases the risk of stroke, and patients are commonly treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). However, when patients do not take these medications regularly, the drugs may not work effectively, increasing health risks.
In this study, called PharmAD-AF, specially trained pharmacists will meet with patients who have atrial fibrillation and are prescribed DOACs. They will offer personalized education and support to help patients take their medications as directed.
Researchers will compare groups of patients who receive this pharmacist-led education versus those who receive usual care. The main goals are to assess whether pharmacist support improves how consistently patients take their DOACs and how well the treatment prevents strokes while avoiding the side effects of DOAC therapy.
If successful, the study will demonstrate how pharmacist-led education can help patients stick to their treatment plan and reduce serious health risks, offering a practical way to improve heart-related care.
Inclusion: 18 years of age or older; have a confirmed diagnosis of AF; are expected to begin DOAC therapy for at least 3 months for stroke prevention.
Exclusion: have been on DOAC therapy for more than 6 months; cannot understand DOAC-related education due to low literacy, language barriers, or cognitive impairment; using DOACs in off-label regimens; are pregnant or breastfeeding.