Year: 1993
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of quality of life of implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients at various stages post-implantation.The study target population consisted of all patients in a Midwestern referral area, 18 years of age or older, having required ICD implantation for the control of clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias.This descriptive survey design utilized a crosssectional approach with the limited patient population.A mailed, self-administered questionnaire was the source of data for this study.The overall return rate of mailed questionnaires was 77%.Ten subjects in stage one (one day to six months postimplantation), five subjects in stage two (greater than six months to twelve months), and 29 subjects in stage three (greater than twelve months), for a total of 44 subjects, were studied.Data analysis included the exploration of quality of life perceptions of each study group as well as comparisons to one another.Descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze and describe demographic information obtained.ANOVA and ttest (two-tailed) analysis were utilized to test for significant differences between the three groups.Findings in this study demonstrated that this sample of ICD patients had a wide variation in perception of quality of life.General health evaluation was the least positively perceived health attribute.Functional status was seen more positively than general health evaluation.Well-being was the most positively perceived health xi attribute.Role limitations due to physical problems was the health concept least positively perceived, and was significantly impacted by reports of dizzy/faint feelings over the previous month.Bodily pain was the health concept seen as most positive in this sample, significantly impacted by reports of irregular heart beat and dizzy/faint feelings over the previous month.Social functioning was the health concept seen most similarly during the three stages post-implantation.Role limitation due to physical problems was the health concept seen as least similar among the three stages.Health status over the past year was significantly impacted by stage post-implantation.Overall, stage one subjects' quality of life mean scale score was least positive, while stage three score was most positive.Results of this study provide opportunities in the areas of clinical practice, education, and research for nurses working with ICD patients.xii CHAPTER I Limitations This study involved a small convenience sample.However, as the postimplantation care and needs of the ICD patient can be assumed to be generally the same, findings are generalizable, at least in part, to all adult post-ICD patients.The commitment and cooperation of contact staff at the involved institutions potentially affected study results.The frequency of ICD implementations was sporadic and therefore ICD patients were not equally distributed in their stage of adjustment.ICD patient quality of life issues have not been addressed previously in this format.The problems and solutions thus identified are not applicable to other patient groups or conditions in a comparison of quality of life issues.
Author: Rehak, Mary E
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7167857449