How do partners of ICD recipients respond to ICD Electrical Storms?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
After the storm: How do partners of those receiving an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) experience episodes of Electrical Storm, which have resulted from ICD activation (shocks)? An exploration using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
IRAS ID
196818
Contact name
Carl Rideout
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leicester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 13 days
Research summary
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) are electronic devices that are inserted under the collarbone, which monitor and respond to dangerous heart rhythms. There is a phenomenon of ICDs known as Electrical Storm (three or more ICD activations/shocks within 24 hours). Research indicates that ICD recipients and their partners experience a range of psychological (e.g. fear, nervousness, anxiety, depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and social difficulties (e.g. altered relationships and roles, and reduced physical functioning and engagement in leisure activities) following the fitting of the recipient’s ICD, and in response to isolated ICD shocks. However, the ways in which partners experience and respond to Electrical Storms (multiple shocks within 24 hours) has not been researched. It is speculated that episodes of Electrical Storm, especially if witnessed, may exacerbate the psychological and social difficulties experienced by the partners of ICD recipients. This project will develop the understanding of partners’ experiences and inform the delivery of professional support and psychological interventions. Furthermore, as research has demonstrated that poor partner psychosocial functioning can be detrimental to the ICD recipient’s recovery, improving partner wellbeing/functioning, via better informed professional support and intervention, may also benefit the ICD recipient.
The participants will be the partners of cardiac patients who have accessed University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Cardiac Rhythm Team, Glenfield Hospital following an episode of Electrical Storm. Approximately six participants will be recruited. Each participant will complete a short demographic information form, a brief distress/trauma questionnaire and take part in a 1:1 interview with the chief investigator, lasting between 60-90 minutes, to discuss the participant’s experiences of his/her partner’s episode/s of Electrical storm. Interviews will be audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (this explores the participant’s personal experiences comprehensively). Participants may be asked to attend a follow-up interview. The study will be completed by April 2017.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0238
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion