Prompt: Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosis Explanation Letter

Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosis Explanation Letter

Use this prompt to draft a letter for a patient who has just been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) and needs a clear, calm written explanation before or after their consultation.

Draft a patient letter explaining a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation 
(AF) for a patient aged [[patient_age — e.g. "64"]].

The patient's main concerns are: [[main_concerns — e.g. "whether this 
will affect their ability to drive and continue playing golf" or 
"what caused it and whether it can be cured"]].

Cover:
- What atrial fibrillation is in plain English (irregular heartbeat 
  due to disorganised electrical signals in the upper chambers)
- Why it matters — the main concern is stroke risk
- That there are ways to manage it (rate control, rhythm control, 
  anticoagulation) — without recommending a specific approach
- That the goal is to reduce stroke risk and manage symptoms
- What symptoms should prompt them to contact the cardiology team 
  or seek urgent help
- That their questions will be addressed at their follow-up appointment

Tone: calm and honest. Do not be alarming, but do not minimise the 
reason for treatment. Do not include specific drug names or doses. 
Maximum 350 words.

Why this works

Naming the patient's specific concerns in the prompt means the letter addresses what this patient is actually worried about, rather than a generic AF explanation. Explicitly framing AF as "manageable" without specifying the management approach keeps the letter informative without overstepping the clinical decision that belongs in the consultation.

How to tweak it

• For a patient who has presented with a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) as the presenting event, add: "This patient's AF was found after a TIA. The letter should acknowledge this and explain the connection between AF and stroke in slightly more depth."
• For a patient who is particularly anxious, add: "The patient is very anxious. Acknowledge this in the opening sentence and use a particularly reassuring but honest tone throughout."

Remember: AI is a helpful assistant, not a clinician. You make the call.