Italian nursing students' knowledge of Atrial Fibrillation: A cross-sectional study

Background: Early recognition, prevention, and treatment of complications are key aspects of nursing care planning for people with Atrial Fibrillation (AF). However, recent studies suggest that nurses' knowledge of AF is only sometimes accurate. No studies are currently available in Italy. Aim: To study nursing students' knowledge of Atrial Fibrillation in an Italian setting. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted in a population of nursing students from three Italian universities during the 2022/2023 academic year. The validity and reliability of the Italian version of the Atrial Fibrillation Knowledge Assessment Tool (AFKAT-ita) were investigated. Results: 246 students (response rate 73.21%) were enrolled. The total of correct answers was Me = 18 IQR [16; 19] (theoretical range 0-21). The number of correct answers increased with age (p < 0.001), year of the course advances (p < 0.001), and in those who had direct contact with people with AF during their clinical experience (p < 0.001). The Content Validity Index (S-CVI) of the AFKAT-ita was 92.10, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.695, and McDonald's ω was 0.726. Conclusion: Overall, students showed a moderate level of knowledge. These results provide an initial overview of the knowledge of AF in Italian nursing students; in-depth studies are desirable. The psychometric properties of the AFKAT-ita confirm it as a valid and reliable tool for assessing AF knowledge.