Establishing a Standard for Peri-operative Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Patient Education

Establishing a Standard for Peri-operative Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Patient Education

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) administers a shock to terminate potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. The device saves lives, but presents psychological challenges for patients. At present, there is a paucity of brief interventions for ICD patients designed for administration in a clinic setting that considers issues of cost, time, and available resources. The present study examined the impact of a brief cognitive behavioral (CBT) educational intervention on primary endpoints of patient acceptance and quality of life and secondary endpoints of depression and anxiety. It was hypothesized that the intervention would result in significant improvements primary and secondary endpoints for participants in the intervention group.

behavioral intervention, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, psychosocial education, anxiety, depression

Received the current standard of care as operationally defined by the investigators- Q&A session + Video

Intervention group- Patients will receive the brief educational CBT intervention + video and Q&A session

Intervention consisted of a brief, educational CBT intervention and included the following domain areas: ICD knowledge and post-discharge care, understanding shock, stress management, family and relationships, device recall, and survivorship. The intervention was provided at baseline (0 weeks). Intervention was led by investigator and lasted 15 minutes in duration.

Quality of life will be obtained via participants scores from the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-12 (SF-12) measure of quality of life.

Depression will be assessed via participant's self-reported scores on the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

The Florida Patient Acceptance Scale measures patient's self-reported acceptance of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale is comprised of two subscales- anxiety and depression. It is a self-report measure that generates a score on the patient's current level of anxiety.

Inclusion Criteria: 18+ years old literate newly implanted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) Exclusion Criteria: documented neurological sequelae associated with CVA or dementia documented cognitive impairment reported illiteracy previously implanted ICD