Symptom Experiences and Coping Strategies in Turkish Patients with Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators: A...

Background/Objectives: Although implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) play a critical role in reducing the risk of sudden cardiac death, patients may report various physical and psychological symptoms during the implantation process. This study aimed to examine ICD patients' retrospective reports of pre-implantation symptoms, their concurrent assessment of post-implantation symptom experiences, and the non-pharmacological methods they used to cope with these symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with ICD patients who visited the arrhythmia clinic between May and August 2022. Data were collected using a questionnaire developed by the researchers and medical records. The study analyzed changes in symptoms reported by patients, individual coping methods used, the perceived effectiveness of these methods, and comparisons of methods used according to descriptive and clinical characteristics. Results: Patients reported a decrease in chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, syncope, and shortness of breath after ICD implantation (p < 0.001). However, they reported an increase in fatigue and anxiety levels (p < 0.001); no significant change was reported for insomnia (p = 0.473) and fear (p = 0.082). Furthermore, no significant difference was observed between patients who received shock therapy and those who did not in terms of changes in anxiety and fatigue levels, and the increase in anxiety was similar in both groups. The most frequently reported coping method among patients was praying, followed by drinking herbal tea and walking. A significant relationship was found between marital status and coping method preference, while no relationship was found with other descriptive and clinical characteristics. Conclusions: Although ICD implantation reduces cardiac symptoms, anxiety and fatigue continue to increase. Patients' tendency to turn to cultural and spiritual coping methods such as prayer indicates that post-ICD care should be conducted with a holistic approach that also covers psychological and spiritual needs.