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Q: What tips do you have for inclusion of a new patient?
A: In general, we offer study participation to all patients who come to our site for AF ablation or those who will undergo an AF ablation. However, so far we have only enrolled patients with pharmacological control of AF.
To improve patient enrollment, we continously remind physicians that they should try to recruit potential AF patients which they see every day. Those patients who have doubts about participating in the study after the explanation of the study are told that they should think about it, and if they come to the hospital for another problem, we can take the opportunity to include them in the study (if they eventually want to).
We use the bracelet as a good opportunity for patients to monitor their parameters such as heart rate, sleep quality, breathing rate and step counter.
We also point out to patients the future benefits of the MAESTRIA study for earlier prediction and diagnosis of AF and stroke.
Q: How many people are working in your study team?
A: In addition to the 9 people (doctors, nurses and study coordinators) actively working in the study team, the entire cardiac arrhythmia department of our hospital contributes indirectly in some way to patient recruitment.
Q: Where do you find potential patients in your clinic?
A: The doctors find potential candidates during consultation hours, usually on Thursdays when they have the most patients. On this occasion, the study is explained to them, and if the patient agrees and signs the consent form, we carry out all the study tasks.
Q: How long have you been working as a research coordinator or investigator?
Lucía Cortés: since March 2023, I have been a study coordinator in the Cardiac Arrhythmia Department at San Carlos Clinical Hospital in Madrid. Before that, I worked as a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) in another company for 2.5 years.
Q: Do you have recommendations for other MAESTRIA locations? What is your success?
A: For us, communication between all employees and cooperation between all team members is crucial in order to identify recruitable patients and carry out all tasks during the initial visits in an organized and efficient manner.