Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyMeta-analysis
Health Literacy Interventions and Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
- meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
Health literacy interventions are demonstrating a trajectory toward a digital mode, extending beyond patient education, and are associated with gains in AF knowledge, treatment adherence, and improved survival.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving health literacy interventionsstudies included in the final review (of 3,889 records identified)
- Participants
- 53 patients
- Comparison
- health literacy interventions and patient knowledge, patient action, and clinical outcomes in patients with AF
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Knowledge outcomes
Hedges' g (n = 12 studies)
0.95 [0.55-1.35]
Further pooled results
Emergency department visits
| Comparison | OR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Health literacy interventions · n = 4 studies; lower with health literacy interventions | 0.69 (0.48–0.98) | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
Hospitalization
| Comparison | OR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Health literacy interventions · n = 14 studies; lower with health literacy interventions | 0.56 (0.44–0.73) | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
Mortality
| Comparison | OR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Health literacy interventions · n = 16 studies; lower with health literacy interventions | 0.64 (0.49–0.82) | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
Patient action outcomes
- Hedges' g (n = 11 studies)
- 0.54 [0.16-0.92]
- Treatment adherence, Hedges' g (n = 6 studies)
- 0.61 [0.19-1.03]
- Uncertain effect on self-efficacy
Delivery mode of interventions
- Shift in the trajectory of health literacy interventions from face-to-face to digital delivery
- A small number of studies incorporated interventions, such as rhythm monitoring and reminder texts for patients, as well as software for doctors, to improve adherence to recommended guidelines
Original publication
Health Literacy Interventions and Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. JACC Adv. Published 25 March 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102667
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it