The nature and course of illness perception following cardiac pacemaker implantation: a self-regulatory approach

This study was designed to explore the relationship between illness perceptions and educational intervention based on the Leventhal's model in pacemaker patients. Fifty-one consecutive patients who were admitted for implantation of permanent cardiac pacemaker were recruited to receive an educational intervention, which consisted of two sessions delivered in the hospital and clinic, respectively. Participants completed a pacemaker-specific Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) twice, one prior to educational intervention and the other 10 weeks following the pacemaker implantation. Data regarding the dimensions of cognitive and emotional representations based on the Leventhal's model have demonstrated the relationship between the patients' perception before and after the educational intervention. Overall, after the educational intervention, the patients have considered the illness as having a moderate impact on their life and have known their illness as a chronic condition that was responsive to treatment and influenced by personal behavior. Participants believed they had a good understanding of their illness and had less 'concern' and 'emotional representation'. Based on the results of the present study, pacemaker patients had a more benign view about their illness after educational intervention compared with before this intervention. These explanations might affect the acceptance and treatment seeking and even lead to lower complications.