Patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and their conceptions of the life situation: a qualitative analysis.
The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is today widely used for the treatment of sudden cardiac near-death episodes as a result of malignant ventricular dysrhythmia. After examining the literature, only four descriptive studies, all carried out in the USA, with a qualitative analysis based on ICD-patients' own perspectives on their life situation have been found. The aim of this study was to describe how patients living with an ICD-device in south-western Sweden conceive their life situation. As the focus was on patients' conceptions seen from a holistic perspective, an analysis inspired by phenomenography was employed on a strategic sample of 15 ICD-patients. Six categories emerged: a feeling of safety, a feeling of gratitude, a feeling of being, having a network, having a belief in the future, and gaining awareness. Although the findings cannot be generalized because of the descriptive research design, they illuminate the beneficial as well as intrusive effects of such a device, and emphasize the need for support groups for patients and families as well as further education for personnel in hospital and primary health care.
Fridlund
B
B
Centre for Health Promotion Research, Halmstad University, Sweden. Bengt.Fridlund@ihv.hh.se
Lindgren
E C
EC
Ivarsson
A
A
Jinhage
B M
BM
Bolse
K
K
Flemme
I
I
Sandstedt
B
B
Mårtensson
J
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden