Technology Dependency and Health-Related Quality of Life

Toward a Theory of Technology Dependency and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL): A Test of a Model in Patients With an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

This study will explore how people with an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) feel that dependence on this life-saving technology affects their health-related quality of life. ICD therapy is an important treatment option for patients with serious recurrent abnormal heart rhythms. Overall survival is significantly improved in high risk patients who receive this therapy. This study will explore patients' perceptions of the impact of this device on their health status and well being, and their physical, psychological and social functioning.

Patients 18 years of age or older who have an implanted cardioverter defibrillator may be eligible for this study.

Participants will fill out a questionnaire booklet containing 170 questions about how they feel about their health, including their concerns and stresses, feelings about dependency on life-saving technology, and illness perception. There are also questions on demography, such as age, marital status, employment, etc. The booklet may take up to 30 minutes to complete.

Information obtained from this study may lead to a better understanding of how people feel about their health after receiving an ICD and help patients and families adapt to living with the device.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Detailed Description

With the efficacy of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD ) therapy well established, the survival time of recipients of this technology must be interpreted more broadly. It is important to better understand how ICD recipients perceive their dependence on this life saving technology and how these perceptions influence their Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL). The purpose of this cross sectional, predictive study is to test a causal model that may explain the link between attitudes towards dependency on technology and HRQL in a sample of adult ICD recipients. The hypothesized model consists of seven variables: attitudes towards technology dependency; age; gender; illness history; illness representation; symptom distress; and HRQL. Adult subjects (greater than 18 years) who have received an ICD will be asked to participate. Subjects will complete a self-administered, mailed questionnaire that includes five instruments: 1) The Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 Survey Version 1.0; 2) The Important Concerns and Distress Questionnaire; 3) The Illness Perception Questionnaire; 4) The Dependency on Technology Scales; 5) Demographic Questionnaire. The model will be tested statistically by use of Structural Equation Modeling techniques. The definitive goal of this study is to develop a theoretically meaningful and statistically well-fitting model that specifies how dependence on technology influences HRQL. The hypothesis for this study is that the full structural equation model fits data from the sample of adult ICD recipients.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment

125

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center (CC)

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Male or female adults (18 years of age or older).

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Unable to read written English.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

August 1, 2001

Study Completion

August 1, 2004

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 17, 2001

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 17, 2001

First Posted (Estimate)

August 20, 2001

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

March 4, 2008

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 3, 2008

Last Verified

August 1, 2004

More Information

Terms related to this study

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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