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Published on: February 28, 2012
The Challenges of Living With an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: A Qualitative Study
Mohammad Abbasi1, Reza Negarandeh2, Reza Norouzadeh3
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, IR Iran.
Insights
Living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) presents significant challenges, including fear, anxiety, and concerns about device function and lifestyle adjustments. Patient education by nurses is crucial for managing these challenges effectively.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Device Technology
- Patient Psychology
Background:
- Dysrhythmia is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death globally.
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are crucial for managing cardiac arrest.
- Living with an ICD can lead to psychological distress, including fear, anxiety, and depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the multifaceted challenges faced by individuals living with an ICD.
- To understand the lived experiences of patients post-ICD implantation.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interpretive phenomenological approach.
- Thirteen participants (21-70 years old) with ICDs were interviewed.
- Semi-structured interviews guided by Van Manen's six-step method.
Main Results:
- Key challenges include fear of death, shock pain, device malfunction, and loss of control.
- Patients experience anxiety about the future and device costs.
- Lifestyle limitations and concerns about device functionality are significant.
Conclusions:
- Patients with ICDs encounter numerous psychological and practical challenges.
- Nurses play a vital role in pre- and post-implantation patient education and support.
Background:
Dysrhythmia is one of the most common causes of sudden cardiac death worldwide. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator is the most effective method of treatment for dysrhythmias causing cardiac arrest. However, living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator is associated with challenges such as fear, anxiety, and depression.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges of living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
Patients And Methods:
In this qualitative study, an interpretive phenomenological approach was used, with thirteen participants (seven men and six women) between the ages of 21 and 70 years old (mean = 58.15, SD = 14.4). The duration of having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator was 1 - 120 months (mean = 23.15, SD = 33.31). Maximum variation sampling was used to purposefully select the participants from the governmental Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran, Iran, between May and October of 2013. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for 30 to 45 minutes, and Van Manen's six-step method was used in this study.
Results:
The challenges of living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator include: living with fear, concerns about the future, concerns about device malfunction, fearing death during the shock, pain due to the shock, loss of control, the cost of the device, and the lifestyle limitations.
Conclusions:
Patients who live with implantable cardioverter defibrillators face many concerns and challenges. Therefore, the role of nurses in teaching patients before and after implementation is very important.
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