Over-confidence in cardiac devices can create a barrier in engaging patients in advance care planning and discussions around device deactivation

摘要

Guidelines for managing patients with heart failure indicate that discussions about the condition, treatment options and advance care planning should be discussed at an early stage of the disease. Prior to implanting a cardiac device, clinicians should be discussing when device deactivation might become appropriate. This study demonstrates a trend that patients' faith in their cardiac device and future technology is such that they are less likely to view advance planning discussions as relevant to them. This study concludes that further research is needed regarding strategies to help engage patients in discussions, at the point of device implantation, about future disease progression and devices deactivation.