What do pacemaker recipients think of their implantations? An exploratory study.

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.