PPCI Survey
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patients’ Perceptions of Cardiac Interventions Survey
IRAS ID
136454
Contact name
Gareth Wynn
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and particularly in more developed countries. In addition to those who die, many more patients suffer symptoms due cardiovascular disease. Thankfully, numerous medical procedures have been developed which can improve symptoms and reduce the risk of premature death. These include ablation (burning within the heart) to treat disorders of heart rhythm, pacemakers for when the heart beats too slowly or in an ineffective manner, implantable defibrillators which shock the heart back into rhythm if it is beating dangerously fast, and coronary angiography and angioplasty to treat narrowing of the heart arteries that can cause angina or a heart attack. Although these procedures are performed, worldwide, on thousands of patients every day they remain amongst the most complex and challenging non-surgical treatments available. Whilst they can become routine for the doctors and nurses who perform them, they may be considered as major life events for the patient being treated.
We know from previous research that anxiety and fear are, unsurprisingly, commonly experienced by patients due to undergo a cardiac procedure. Surprisingly, there is no published research looking at the specific issues that worry or concern, leading to this fear and anxiety. Without knowing what worries patients it is clearly difficult for healthcare workers to adequately address these worries. This study intends to address this gap in our knowledge.
The aim of this research is twofold. Firstly, to discover the common concerns and fears amongst a group of patients undergoing a cardiac procedure. Secondly, using a second, larger, group of patients to discover how each of these concerns contributes to the overall level of anxiety.
Through better understanding patients’ fears and concerns we hope to be able to improve the experience of our patients and the service we offer to them.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/WM/0322
Date of REC Opinion
8 Aug 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion