The Experience of Body Image for People with an LVAD v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Experience of Body Image for People with a Left Ventricular Assist Device
IRAS ID
255988
Contact name
Hannah Gordon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Lancaster University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
How do individuals with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) experience their body image?
Individuals with visible differences due to illness or accident may experience poor body image, which impacts negatively on their self-esteem and mood. Some individuals who are required to wear external medical equipment, e.g. stoma bags, experience significant distress accepting/adapting to an altered body (e.g. Brown, 2007).
An LVAD is a mechanical circulatory pump which can be implanted in an individual's chest and attached to their left ventricle to push blood around the body. Individuals may be given an LVAD if their heart is failing and unable to sustain life without support until a suitable donor heart is found for transplantation. LVADs have significant external components which must be worn at all times to keep the wearer alive, including a controller, wires, and two large batteries.
Qualitative literature on the psychosocial aspects of LVAD implantation is sparse and focuses more broadly on how individuals adapt to living with an LVAD. Challenges around bodily changes, identity, and clothing have been mentioned in these studies (e.g. Marcuccilli, Casida & Peters, 2013). However, body image is yet to be explored in depth. This study aims to explore the impact of being implanted with an LVAD on individuals' perceptions of their body image. This is a valuable area of research as it will help further inform services as to the needs of people living with an LVAD.
Participants will be recruited by clinical psychologists and nurses from the LVAD teams at Wythenshawe and Harefield hospitals. Participants will be adult outpatients implanted with an LVAD for at least six months. Semi-structured interviews will take approximately 1-hour either in a private room at the hospital, at the participant’s home, or via telephone/skype. Interviews will be anonymised, transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0104
Date of REC Opinion
5 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion