Patient checklist: Improving attendance at imaging appointments post left atrial appendage occlusion implant.

BACKGROUND

Nonattendance at required postprocedural imaging appointments following left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) device implantation poses a significant clinical concern, as timely follow-up is necessary to confirm adequate device endothelialization and guide anticoagulant management. Simple educational strategies may improve patient adherence to follow-up care.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of a one-page patient checklist on compliance with the required 45-day post-LAAO follow-up imaging appointment.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study was conducted at a community hospital using a patient checklist intervention. Prospective data were collected from patients who received the checklist (n = 97), and retrospective data were obtained from patients who didn't receive the checklist (n = 100). Compliance with the 45-day imaging appointment was compared between groups using chi-square analysis.

RESULTS

Compliance with the 45-day follow-up imaging appointment was significantly higher among patients who received the checklist compared with those who didn't receive it (91% vs 75%; χ 2 = 8.3, P = .004). Demographic differences between groups weren't clinically meaningful.

CONCLUSIONS

A simple, low-cost patient checklist significantly improved adherence to an essential postprocedural imaging appointment following LAAO implantation. This easily reproducible intervention may be applied to other care pathways requiring strict follow-up adherence.