Project Title

Research Focus

Funder & Dates

Principal Investigator or Primary Supervisor (if PhD project)

Dr Loreena Hill

Co-Investigators or additional supervisors

Prof Donna Fitzsimons

Prof Maria Lohan

Dr Olinda Santin

Prof Martin Dempster

Name & Institution of Collaborators

Dr Lana Dixon: Consultant Cardiologist, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Prof Roy Gardner: Consultant Cardiologist and Honorary Professor, Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service, Golden Jubilee National hospital, Clydebank, Glasgow

Name of External Partner Organisations

Pro-peer solutions ( software company)

Description of Project:

Aim; Methods; Expected Outcomes

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is cornerstone in treatment of life-threatening arrhythmias, yet 25% of patients express concerns following implantation. 

Aim: To co-design, optimize and establish feasibility and acceptability of eHealth intervention: CHOICE-ICD, providing information to reduce patients’ concerns and improve quality of life.

Methods: Phase 1: Underpinned by theory and research, core components of an intervention will be co-designed according to six-step process, and in collaboration with stakeholders. Components include ICD written information, educational animations, virtual reality application, videos and communication “prompts”. International advisory group will oversee iterative development, user testing and optimization. Phase 2: CHOICE-ICD is pilot trial, recruiting 128 patients awaiting/recently implanted ICD or cardiac resynchronisation therapy with ICD from Northern Ireland and Glasgow. Participants will use the intervention for 3 months. Data will be analyzed to determine feasibility and acceptability of intervention, and trial methods for future effectiveness trial.       

Outcomes: Recruitment, consent and randomization rates, and completion of questionnaires at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Acceptability of intervention delivery and suitability of outcome measures.

Conclusions: First UK eHealth intervention to provide tailored information to reduce concerns and improve quality of life for patients with an ICD. According to results, plans will be initiated for future effectiveness trial.