Perceptions of Singaporean patients living with implantable cardioverter defibrillators: an exploratory qualitative study

“Those Plates That Save Me”: Experiences of Italian Patients With Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

“…In our study, together with the perceived continuity and non-modification of their daily life, a strong psychological impact determined above all by the fear and by a pervading feeling of insecurity emerged, confirming what has been reported in previous studies (Conelius, 2015;Garrino et al, 2018;Humphreys et al, 2016;Ooi et al, 2018;Pasyar et al, 2015Pasyar et al, , 2017. Fear and insecurity were mainly determined by the functioning of the device rather than by its presence.…”

“…The patients who suffer most from this new condition seem to be the younger male individuals. As already highlighted in the literature (Larimer et al, 2016;McDonough, 2009;Ooi et al, 2018), younger patients underline the difficulties encountered after the ICD implant, mostly linked to the modification of their self-image and the perceptions other people may have of them. These difficulties generate greater relational insecurity in younger individuals with an ICD, leading them to avoid, for example, situations that could involve the exposure of their body and therefore the presence of the device, which may limit moments of intimacy (Larimer et al, 2016).…”

“…Those who still had not received a shock feared it and reported to constantly think about how it could have been, where it could have happened and how they could have felt during and after it. On the contrary, those who had already experienced the shock remembered it as a disruptive event and of a very high intensity, inevitably unexpected, to the point of strengthening the fear that it could occur again (Ooi et al, 2018; Pasyar et al, 2015). Anxiety was not only related to the electric discharge, but was enhanced by the fear and concern that the device might not work when needed, as underlined by Humphreys et al (2016).…”

“…Interviewees underlined that they frequently had to find the information they needed by themselves during check-ups and follow-ups. Unlike Ooi et al (2018), they remarked that technical information was given, but education about to behave during some daily situations, such as the use of electronic equipment, was scarce. From the words of the respondents, there appeared the need for greater personalization of the indications and explanations provided, in the attempt to tailor them to the daily reality of each patient with information that takes into account their differences as individuals and as ICD carriers (Garrino et al, 2018).…”

“…First of all, they rely on the device, on the ICD, through the words used to describe it. They place all their trust in the device and the people who took care of them (Garrino et al, 2018; Humphreys et al, 2016; Ooi et al, 2018). The feeling of not being able to decide and control what is happening anymore, seems to lead them to attribute this responsibility to others who are competent.…”