Disparities in Preferences for Receiving Support and Education Among Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Utilization: A Contemporary Review

Purpose of review

Sudden cardiac arrest is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Despite having a disproportionate burden of sudden cardiac death (SCD), rates of primary and secondary prevention of SCD with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy are lower among eligible racially minoritized patients. This review highlights the racial and ethnic disparities in ICD utilization, associated barriers to ICD care, and proposed interventions to improve equitable ICD uptake.

Recent findings

Racially minoritized populations are disproportionately eligible for ICD therapy but are less likely to see cardiac specialists, be counseled on ICD therapy, and ultimately undergo ICD implantation, fueling disparate outcomes. Racial disparities in ICD utilization are multifactorial, with contributions at the patient, provider, health system, and structural/societal level.

Summary

Racial and ethnic disparities have been demonstrated in preventing SCD with ICD use. Proposed strategies to mitigate these disparities must prioritize care delivery and access to care for racially minoritized patients, increase the diversification of clinical and implementation trial participants and the healthcare workforce, and center reparative justice frameworks to rectify a long history of racial injustice.

Visualization of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Data for Older Adults Using Participatory Design

Patients with heart failure (HF) are commonly implanted with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices as part of their treatment. Presently, they cannot directly access the remote monitoring (RM) data generated from these devices, representing a missed opportunity for increased knowledge and engagement in care. However, electronic health data sharing can create information overload issues for both clinicians and patients, and some older patients may not be comfortable using the technology (i.e., computers and smartphones) necessary to access this data. To mitigate these problems, patients can be directly involved in the creation of data visualization tailored to their preferences and needs, allowing them to successfully interpret and act upon their health data. We held a participatory design (PD) session with seven adult patients with HF and CRT device implants, who were presently undergoing RM, along with two informal caregivers. Working in three teams, participants used drawing supplies and design cards to design a prototype for a patient-facing dashboard with which they could engage with their device data. Information that patients rated as a high priority for the "Main Dashboard" screen included average percent pacing with alerts for abnormal pacing, other device information such as battery life and recorded events, and information about who to contact with for data-related questions. Preferences for inclusion in an "Additional Information" display included a daily pacing chart, health tips, aborted shocks, a symptom list, and a journal. These results informed the creation of an actual dashboard prototype which was later evaluated by both patients and clinicians. Additionally, important insights were gleaned regarding the involvement of older patients in PD for health technology.

Preliminary Development of an Informational Media Use Measure for Patients with Implanted Defibrillators: Toward a Model of Social-Ecological Assessment of Patient Education and Support

Social work interventions in health care, particularly those that involve working with people being treated for chronic and life-threatening conditions, frequently involve efforts to educate patients about their disease, treatment options, safety planning, medical adherence, and other associated issues. Despite an intuitive notion that patients access information about all of these issues through a variety of media-both inside and outside the clinical encounter, created by professionals and by others-there currently exists no validated means of assessing patients' use of these forms of information. To address this gap, authors first created candidate item measures with input from both physicians and a small group of diverse patients who currently have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a sophisticated cardiac device for which a trajectory model of social work intervention was recently outlined. Authors then surveyed a group of 205 individuals who have these devices, assessing their use of various media to learn about ICDs. They then conducted factor and item analysis to refine and remove poorly performing items while delineating forms of media use by type. The resultant preliminary measure of informational media use can be further refined and adapted for use with any clinical population.

Readability and content of patient education material related to implantable cardioverter defibrillators

BACKGROUND

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are increasingly offered to patients for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Candidates for ICD receive ICD-related patient education material when they make decisions to consent or decline a primary prevention ICD. Printed patient education material directed at ICD candidates has not been the focus of direct appraisal.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the readability and content of ICD-related print education materials made available to patients who were enrolled in a study involving patient decision making for ICD from 3 ICD sites in southern Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

All ICD print materials referred to during interviews and/or that were available in ICD site waiting rooms were collected for analysis. Readability testing was conducted using the "simple measurement of gobbledygook" and Fry methods. The material was evaluated according to selected plain-language criteria, thematic content analysis, and rhetoric analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-one print materials were identified and analyzed. Documents were authored by device manufacturers, tertiary care hospitals, and cardiac support organizations. Although many documents adhered to plain-language recommendations, text-reading levels were higher than recommended. Twelve major content themes were identified. Content focused heavily on the positive aspects of living with the device to the exclusion of other possible information that could be relevant to the decisions that patients made.

CONCLUSIONS

Print-based patient education materials for ICD candidates are geared to a highly literate population. The focus on positive information to the exclusion of potentially negative aspects of the ICD, or alternatives to accepting 1, could influence and/or confuse patients about the purpose and implications of this medical device. Development of print materials is indicated that includes information about possible problems and that would be relevant for the multicultural and debilitated population who may require ICDs. The findings are highly relevant for nurses who care for primary prevention ICD candidates.