title: Life situation of patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator: a descriptive longitudinal study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to describe changes in the life situation of patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator over a period of 1 year. A sample of 56 consecutive patients took part in the study. Life situation was measured through uncertainty in illness, satisfaction, and fear of the life situation. Descriptive statistics were used to present results, and analytical statistics were used to map out changes over time. Overall uncertainty showed a decrease over time. A statistically significant difference was found within the domain uncertainty related to information (P < 0.001). Satisfaction increased within the domains health-functioning, socio-economic, psychological-spiritual, and family. The ability to act within the domain health-functioning showed a statistical significance (P < 0.05). The domain life changes within fear in the life situation decreased and showed a statistical significance (P < 0.05). The overall life situation showed increased satisfaction as well as lower uncertainty and fear in the life situation. The research indicates that patients need more information about changes in the life situation after the implantable cardioverter defibrillator-implantation. The study encourages more humanistic, holistic research about patients' life situations as well as more education in teaching skills for health care personnel.
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Health Sciences, Halmstad University, Sweden. Inger.Flemme@hos.hh.se
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Flemme
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bolse
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivarsson
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Jinhage
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sandstedt
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Edvardsson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fridlund
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*