Living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator: The patients' experience.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To explore the lived experiences of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recipients. BACKGROUND: Previous research suggests ICD recipients experience significant psychological distress with a focus on shock anxiety. In response, avoidant behaviors are often used which can lead to reduced quality of life, cardiac fitness and increased risk of arrhythmia. METHODS: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 18 recipients who had either received or not received an ICD shock was conducted. Data were analyzed using a thematic approach. RESULTS: Three themes with sub-themes were defined (i) physical consequences; (ii) emotional consequences (feeling vulnerable and uncertain; anxiety and depression); and (iii) coping with the ICD (avoidance/restrictive behaviors; acceptance; concealment). CONCLUSION: ICD recipients might be helped by a psycho-social intervention that corrects false beliefs about exercise and offers some simple stress management techniques. Additional elements might include helping recipients to re-evaluate goals and find a valued sense of self which this study found aided ICD acceptance.