How do Dutch general practitioners detect and diagnose atrial fibrillation? Results of an online case vignette study

Table 3 Comparison of GPs responses to the vignettes with the Dutch guideline on AF diagnosis (n = 76)^a

Case vignette	Guideline	Responding GPs (n)
		12-lead ECG			Ambulatory monitoring
		Yes	No^b	Missing	Holter	Event recorder	None^c	Missing
A: Only risk factors	No diagnostic tests	20	53	3	7	4	61	4
B: Signs	ECG	71	3	2	24	6	40	6
C: Non-frequent symptoms	ECG or event recorder. If negative ECG: event recorder	34	40	2	24	26	21	5
D: Signs & non-frequent symptoms	ECG or event recorder	56	17	3	24	14	33	5
E: Frequent symptoms	ECG or Holter. If negative ECG: Holter	31	42	3	25	19	27	5
F: Signs & frequent symptoms	ECG or Holter	55	18	3	21	13	37	5

^aBold numbers indicate the guidelines’ recommendation
^bIn this case ‘no’ means the GP did not choose to start the diagnostic process (for example would refer the patient to a cardiologist) or the GP would start the diagnostic process, but not with an ECG
^cIn this case ‘none’ means the GP did not start/continue the diagnostic process or did continue but chose something else, e.g. a repeated ECG measurement

ISSN: 2731-4553