Changes in Daily Life of Iranian Patients with implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: A Qualitative Study.
Nilofar Pasyar, Farkhondeh Sharif, Mahnaz Rakhshan and 2 others
PMID 28409167WHAT IT FOUND
Iranian patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators described losing work and social roles, facing marriage rejection, and experiencing family conflict from excessive care.
They shifted to light activities and self-care to manage fear of shocks, highlighting the psychosocial burden beyond the device's technical function.
Key findings
01Patients reported significant changes in social roles, including job loss, economic problems, and difficulties in marriage due to perceived disability or risk.
02Family interactions were mixed, ranging from essential emotional support to conflicts caused by excessive care that reduced the patient's sense of independence.
03Patients modified daily habits and leisure time, restricting physical activity and avoiding social situations due to fear of device shocks.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only 12 participants, which limits the transferability of findings to a broader population. All participants were from Iran and identified as Muslim, so cultural and religious factors may heavily influence the reported experiences of marriage and social interaction, limiting applicability to other contexts. The sample was purposive and included only patients who had lived with the device for at least one year, potentially excluding those with early adaptation issues or those who died or dropped out. The study did not quantify the severity of depression or anxiety, relying solely on qualitative descriptions of emotional states.
Declared interests
The paper does not explicitly state conflicts of interest or funding sources in the provided text, though it mentions approval by the Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these psychosocial challenges are universal. The findings are deeply contextual to Iranian culture and specific to a small sample of patients who survived at least one year post-implantation. Applying these themes to patients from different cultural backgrounds or with different comorbidities may be inaccurate.