Peer-Mentor Support for Vulnerable Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Summary

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate whether a peer-mentor intervention can improve mental well-being among vulnerable patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients with AF often experience anxiety, uncertainty, and reduced quality of life. These challenges are particularly pronounced among individuals with low socioeconomic position, who may face additional barriers to accessing supportive care.

The main question the study aims to answer is:

Does a 16-week peer-mentor intervention reduce anxiety symptoms among patients with AF compared with usual care?

Researchers will compare peer-mentor support plus usual care with usual care alone.

Participants will:

Complete questionnaires about anxiety, depressive symptoms, quality of life, and self-efficacy at baseline and after 16 weeks.

Be randomized either to receive peer-mentor support for 16 weeks or to receive usual care only.

If allocated to the intervention group, be matched with a trained peer mentor with lived experience of atrial fibrillation who provides emotional support and practical guidance through approximately eight contacts over the 16-week period.

The study will also include follow-up using national health registers and a mixed-methods process evaluation exploring participants' and mentors' experiences with the intervention.

Conditions

• Atrial Fibrillation

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Peer-Mentor Support

A 16-week peer-mentor program designed to support patients living with atrial fibrillation. Participants are matched with trained peer mentors who have lived experience with atrial fibrillation. Mentors provide emotional support, normalization of illness experiences, and practical non-clinical guidance for managing everyday life with the condition. Contacts between mentors and participants are planned approximately eight times during the intervention period and may take place via telephone, face-to-face meetings, or digital communication according to participant preferences. Mentors do not provide medical advice.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Herlev and Gentofte Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Nordsjaellands Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Hvidovre University Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Amager Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• University College Copenhagen

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Signe S Risom, Senior Researcher · Herlev and Gentofte Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-05-01

Primary Completion

2027-11-01

Completion

2028-11-01

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations