Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK; Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, England.
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, England.
Heart Lung. 2024 Sep-Oct;67:152-157. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2024.05.005. Epub 2024 May 19.
Support groups for people with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) are widely used, however, it is not clear what people with ICDs gain from a support group or what format they should take.
The aim of the present study is to define the perceived benefit of ICD support groups and develop practical recommendations for group format.
14 individuals with ICDs were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Reflexive thematic analysis methods were utilised to code and analyse the transcripts before generating themes.
Four themes were defined: confronting mortality, coping through sharing, coping through learning, and providing space. Making connections with other people with ICDs, reassurance, access to information, and advice from health care professionals were important perceived benefits of the support group.
People with ICDs may have to confront their own mortality and adapt to considerable life changes after implant. The findings from the present study have improved understanding of how support groups are perceived and how ICD indication and group format influence the experience. A blended format of in-person community meetings, online forums, HCP-led education and space for person-person interaction is recommended. Importantly, provision of support should not be time-limited to allow people to access it when it most likely to be of benefit to them.
植入式心脏复律除颤器（ICD）使用者支持小组被广泛应用，然而，目前尚不清楚 ICD 使用者从支持小组中获得了什么益处，也不清楚支持小组应该采取何种形式。
本研究旨在确定 ICD 支持小组的感知益处，并为小组形式制定实用建议。
采用半结构式访谈指南对 14 名 ICD 使用者进行访谈。使用反思性主题分析方法对转录本进行编码和分析，然后生成主题。
确定了四个主题：直面死亡、通过分享应对、通过学习应对、提供空间。与其他 ICD 使用者建立联系、获得安慰、获取信息以及获得医疗保健专业人员的建议，是支持小组的重要感知益处。
植入 ICD 后，人们可能不得不直面自身的死亡，并适应生活的重大变化。本研究的结果提高了对支持小组的看法以及 ICD 适应证和小组形式如何影响体验的理解。建议采用现场社区会议、在线论坛、由医疗保健专业人员主导的教育以及人际互动空间相结合的混合模式。重要的是，支持的提供不应有时限，以便人们在最有可能受益的时候能够获得支持。
