Survey on Belgian Patients Suffering From Irregular Heartbeat and Starting Treatment With a Drug to Prevent Blood Clots in Blood Vessels and the Heart. This Study is Also Called BELANCOS.

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
In this study researchers want to learn more about the patient's and treating doctor's concerns about possible bleedings during treatment with drugs preventing blood clots in blood vessels and the heart - so called blood thinner. The study also wants to find out more about the patient's knowledge on the importance, risks and benefits of treatment with this drug group. Patients with irregular heartbeat not caused by valvular heart disease who will start treatment with a blood thinner will be asked by their treating cardiologist to complete a questionnaire related to their knowledge and fear of possible bleedings or stroke (blockage or rupture of a blood vessel to the brain) due to the intake of a blood thinner. The treating doctor will complete a similar questionnaire. The study plans to involve 15 cardiologists and 300 patients in Belgium.

Official Title
-----------------
BELgian ANtiCOagulation Survey for NVAF Patients

Conditions
-----------------
Atrial Fibrillation

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Other: Questionnaires


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion criteria: Male or female adult patients diagnosed with NVAF. NOAC treatment-naive patients who will start a NOAC treatment. Exclusion criteria: Previous stroke or thrombosis Previous severe bleeding

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Patients<br>Non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients who will start treatment with a non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOAC). | Other: Questionnaires<br>* The survey will focus on non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients, who will start treatment with a NOAC, and their treating physician.<br>|
| Physicians<br>Treating physicians for NVAF patients. | Other: Questionnaires<br>* The survey will focus on non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients, who will start treatment with a NOAC, and their treating physician.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Age categories of patients | Collected via the questionnaire. | 1 day | 
| Gender (Female or male) of patients | Collected via the questionnaire. | 1 day | 
| Patients' level of agreement with various statements of using NOACs in general | By using a 5-point Likert scale (completely disagree, more likely to disagree, no opinion, more likely to agree, completely agree) | 1 day | 
| Level of patients fear of having a bleeding on a scale from 0 - 10 |  | 1 day | 
| Level of patients fear of having a stroke or thrombosis on a scale from 0 - 10 |  | 1 day | 
| Age categories of physicians | Collected via the questionnaire. | 1 day | 
| Gender (Female or male) of physicians | Collected via the questionnaire. | 1 day | 
| Physicans' level of agreement with various statement of using NOACs in general | By using a 5-point Likert scale (completely disagree, more likely to disagree, no opinion, more likely to agree, completely agree) | 1 day | 
| Level of patients fear of having a bleeding assessed by physicans on a scale from 0 - 10 |  | 1 day | 
| Level of patients fear of having a stroke or thrombosis assessed by physicians on a scale from 0 - 10 |  | 1 day |