How the experience of living with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator influences the educational needs and concerns of patients and their partners.
Citation
Ferguson, J. (2012) How the experience of living with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator influences the educational needs and concerns of patients and their partners., no. 194.
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to develop an understanding of how the
experience of living with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
influenced patients and their partners' educational needs and concerns. An ICD
is a device that is designed to treat patients who have life-threatening
arrhythmias. The quality of life (QoL) of the ICD recipient is not only influenced
by the disease itself but by adjustment to an altered life situation. Providing
patient education can be an effective intervention to improve patient adjustment
to the device. However, there is little qualitative research on the educational
needs and concerns of these patients. It is therefore argued that qualitative
research focussing on the lived experiences of patients is needed to identify
appropriate educational interventions to facilitate this adjustment.
Methodology: The constant comparative method of constructivist grounded
theory was employed for data collection and analysis. Semi-structured face-toface
interviews were carried out with fourteen ICD patients and four partners.
Findings: A grounded theory model was developed which described how
patient's experiences of getting back to normal following the insertion of an ICD
influenced their educational needs and concerns and ultimately led to their
acceptance of the ICD. The model had two key components, getting back to
normal and being informed. How the patients and carers experienced getting
back to normal consisted of adapting lifestyle, focusing on the positive, effect on
the family and living with the uncertainty regarding experiencing an ICD shock.
Their experience of the ICD influenced their educational needs in that the
information needed to be tailored to their individual experiences.
Discussion: This study found a strong need to feel informed, which is a major
part of Mishels theory of uncertainty. The model is also compared to the crisis
theory and the common-sense model of illness representations. The chapter
ends with a conclusion and recommendations for future resea