title: Social support, anxiety, and support group participation in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
abstract: Although the use of support groups for patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is recommended, little information concerning support and anxiety exists in relation to group attendance. Using a comparative descriptive design, this study sought to examine differences in demographics, ICD indicators, anxiety, and social support between the ICD recipients who attended a support group and those who did not. Characteristics of 150 ICD patients (77 nonattendees, 73 attendees) were evaluated using Sarason's 6-item Social Support Questionnaire and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results show that those who attended a support group had higher trait anxiety (P=.05) and were less satisfied with their social support (P=.03) compared with nonattendees. Among all participants, trait anxiety was higher in those diagnosed with tachycardia (P=.046). Finally, higher satisfaction with support was associated with less anxiety (P=.000) and a larger social network (P=.02). Thus, support group attendees were not less anxious, nor did they experience more support than nonattendees, indicating that support groups may serve a vital role for ICD recipients who are characteristically anxious and lack supportive resources. This study recommends evaluating patient support and anxiety to improve support group efficacy.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Health Systems, SUNY Institute of Technology, Utica, NY 13504, USA. gina.myers@sunyit.edu
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Gary D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003237:Connecticut; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009518:New York; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010414:Pennsylvania; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires