Table 2.
Patients’ responses to questionnaire regarding their knowledge about ICDs
| Overall (n=101) n (%) | Pre-SDM mandate (n =45) n (%) | Post-SDM mandate (n=56) n (%) | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What is the primary purpose of an ICD | ||||
| To prevent sudden cardiac death* | 73 (72.28) | 34 (75.56) | 39 (69.64) | 0.3402 |
| To prevent heart failure | 17 (16.83) | 5 (11.11) | 12 (21.43) | |
| To improve heart failure symptoms, such as shortness of breath and leg swelling | 11 (10.89) | 6 (13.33) | 5 (8.93) | |
| How often should an ICD be checked by the doctor? | ||||
| Several times a year* | 87 (86.14) | 39 (86.67) | 48 (85.71) | 1.0000 |
| Every 5 years | 13 (12.87) | 6 (13.33) | 7 (12.50) | |
| The ICD never needs to be checked | 1 (0.99) | 0 (0) | 1 (1.79) | |
| If someone decides that they no longer want their ICD on and they have it turned off, what happens next? | ||||
| They have to enroll in hospice. | 2 (1.98) | 0 (0) | 2 (3.57) | 0.5928 |
| They will die shortly. | 11 (10.89) | 4 (8.89) | 7 (12.50) | |
| Nothing needs to be done, they can continue to receive medications and other treatments for their heart failure. * | 88 (87.13) | 41 (91.11) | 47 (83.93) | |
| When would it be recommended that an ICD be turned off? | ||||
| While you are asleep | 4 (3.96) | 3 (6.67) | 1 (1.79) | 0.5195 |
| Near the end of life* | 25 (24.75) | 11 (24.44) | 14 (25.00) | |
| It should never be turned off | 72 (71.29) | 31 (68.89) | 41 (73.21) | |
| If 100 people have an ICD, about how many will have their lives saved by the ICD over the next 5 years? Select the answer that is closest to correct. | ||||
| 0 | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.4865 |
| 1 | 5 (4.95) | 3 (6.67) | 2 (3.57) | |
| 7* | 13 (12.87) | 4 (8.89) | 9 (16.07) | |
| 28 | 24 (23.76) | 13 (28.89) | 11 (19.64) | |
| 53 | 59 (58.42) | 25 (55.56) | 34 (60.71) | |
| Minor complications can happen with an ICD such as bleeding or the device becoming disconnected. If 100 people get an ICD, about how many of them will experience a minor complication as a result of their ICD surgery? | ||||
| 0-1 | 22 (21.78) | 6 (13.33) | 16 (28.57) | 0.0116 |
| 2-5* | 51 (50.50) | 30 (66.67) | 21 (37.50) | |
| 6-10 | 23 (22.77) | 6 (13.33) | 17 (30.36) | |
| More than 10 | 5 (4.95) | 3 (6.67) | 2 (3.57) | |
| Serious complications can happen with an ICD such as infections, lung collapse, or death. If 100 people get an ICD, how many of them will experience a serious complication as a result of their ICD surgery? | ||||
| 0-1* | 51 (50.50) | 25 (55.56) | 26 (46.43) | 0.6658 |
| 2-5 | 33 (32.67) | 14 (31.11) | 19 (33.93) | |
| 6-10 | 12 (11.88) | 5 (11.11) | 7 (12.50) | |
| More than 10 | 5 (4.95) | 1 (2.22) | 4 (7.14) | |
| The shocks from an ICD cause some patients to develop emotional problems. | ||||
| Yes* | 45 (44.55) | 17 (37.78) | 28 (50.00) | 0.2193 |
| No | 56 (55.45) | 28 (62.22) | 28 (50.00) | |
| People with an ICD will not feel it if their ICD shocks them. | ||||
| Yes | 12 (11.88) | 7 (15.56) | 5 (8.93) | 0.3063 |
| No* | 89 (88.12) | 38 (84.44) | 51 (91.07) | |
| Sometimes an ICD will not shock a person when a shock is needed. | ||||
| Yes* | 41 (40.59) | 22 (48.89) | 19 (33.93) | 0.1281 |
| No | 60 (59.41) | 23 (51.11) | 37 (66.07) | |
| Sometimes an ICD will shock a person when a shock is not needed. | ||||
| Yes* | 47 (46.53) | 23 (51.11) | 24 (42.86) | 0.4085 |
| No | 54 (53.47) | 22 (48.89) | 32 (57.14) | |
| Percent of questions correctly answered | ||||
| Mean (SD) | 55.0 (19.1) | 57.4 (19.5) | 53.0 (18.7) | 0.2452 |