This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.

Standing H, Exley C, Flynn D, Hughes J, Joyce K, Lobban T, Lord S, Matlock D, McComb JM, Paes P, Thomson RG. A qualitative study of decision-making about the implantation of cardioverter defibrillators and deactivation during end-of-life care. Health Services and Delivery Research 2016; 4(32)

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are recommended for patients at high risk of sudden cardiac death or for survivors of cardiac arrest. All ICDs combine a shock function with a pacing function to treat fast and slow heart rhythms, respectively. The pacing function may be very sophisticated and can provide so-called cardiac resynchronisation therapy for the treatment of heart failure using a pacemaker (cardiac resynchronisation therapy with pacemaker) or combined with an ICD [cardiac resynchronisation therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D)]. Decision-making about these devices involves considering the benefit (averting sudden cardiac death), possible risks (inappropriate shocks and psychological problems) and the potential need for deactivation towards the end of life. The objectives were to explore patients'/relatives' and clinicians' views/experiences of decision-making about ICD and CRT-D implantation and deactivation, to establish how and when ICD risks, benefits and consequences are communicated to patients, to identify individual and organisational facilitators and barriers to discussions about implantation and deactivation and to determine information and decision-support needs for shared decision-making (SDM).

There is discordance between patients and clinicians on information requirements, in particular the potential consequences of implantation on psychological well-being and quality of life in the short and long term (deactivation). There were no agreed points across the care pathway at which to discuss deactivation. Codesigned information tools that present balanced information on the benefits, risks and consequences, and SDM skills training for patients/relative and clinicians, would support better SDM about ICDs.

Subject indexing assigned by CRD

Decision Making; Defibrillators; Hospice Care; Humans; Qualitative Research; Terminal Care

English

England

An English language summary is available.

HS&DR Programme, National Institute for Health Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, University of Southampton, Alpha House, Enterprise Road, Southampton, SO16 7NS, UK Tel: +44 23 8059 4304 Email: hsdrinfo@southampton.ac.uk

32016001074

26/10/2016