Objective To understand the current status of illness perception in patients during the blanking period after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for atrial fibrillation and analyze its influencing factors, and to provide a reference for implementing targeted clinical interventions.Methods A convenience sample of 321 patients in the blanking period after RFA for atrial fibrillation was selected from cardiovascular departments of three tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province.Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, the Benefit Finding Scale, and the Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale.Results The mean total illness perception score was 46.17±10.53.Illness perception was negatively correlated with benefit finding and with chronic disease self-efficacy (P＜0.05 for both).Multiple linear regression identified marital status, per capita monthly household income, European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) symptom class, duration of atrial fibrillation, benefit finding, and chronic disease self-efficacy as significant predictors of illness perception (all P＜0.05).Conclusion Illness perception in patients during the blanking period after RFA for atrial fibrillation needs improvement, with unsatisfactory cognitive understanding of the disease.Healthcare providers should understand patients′ illness perception status and formulate individualized interventions to improve negative illness perception.