Torrington M, Botha J L, Weymar H W
S Afr Med J. 1985 Aug 3;68(3):163-6.
Interviews conducted with 94 pacemaker recipients were analysed to assess their knowledge and understanding of their disease and treatment, as well as to determine their self-assessment of the quality of life before and after implantation. Many patients knew little about their illness, the reason for having a pacemaker, or their prognosis. Eighteen patients claimed still to be in bad physical condition; 47 patients claimed to be physically handicapped, in 32 of whom the handicaps could be related to their cardiac condition. Fifty patients said that they were less active after implantation than before it. These findings suggest a lack of meaningful patient-doctor/doctor-patient communication. It is suggested that a team approach involving a social worker would improve continuity of care and communication, as well as the quality of patients' lives.
对94名心脏起搏器接受者进行了访谈，以评估他们对自身疾病和治疗的了解程度，以及确定他们对植入起搏器前后生活质量的自我评估。许多患者对自己的病情、安装起搏器的原因或预后了解甚少。18名患者声称身体状况仍然很差；47名患者称自己有身体残疾，其中32人的残疾可能与心脏状况有关。50名患者表示，植入起搏器后他们的活动量比之前减少了。这些发现表明患者与医生之间缺乏有效的沟通。建议采用由一名社会工作者参与的团队治疗方法，以改善护理的连续性和沟通，以及提高患者的生活质量。
