Decision making for destination therapy left ventricular assist devices: "there was no choice" versus "I thought about it an awful lot".

ABSTRACT:

Background

Destination therapy left ventricular assist devices (DT LVADs) are one of the most invasive medical interventions for end-stage illness. How patients decide whether or not to proceed with device implantation is unknown. We aimed to understand the decision-making processes of patients who either accept or decline DT LVADs.

Methods and results

Between October 2012 and September 2013, we conducted semistructured, in-depth interviews to understand patients' decision-making experiences. Data were analyzed using a mixed inductive and deductive approach. Twenty-two eligible patients were interviewed, 15 with DT LVADs and 7 who declined. We found a strong dichotomy between decision processes with some patients (11 accepters) being automatic and others (3 accepters, 7 decl

SUBMITTER: McIlvennan CK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4081474 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature