Pacemaker Themes

There were three themes which included multiple subthemes. Problems and restrictions subthemes included physical problems, financial problems and socialization problems. The physical problems of the patients were neurological problem such as feelings of being bored and increased anger. Also pain was a physical complaint. Financial problems included the high cost of the pacemaker and for it to be implanted. Socialization problems due to the feeling of being restricted physically causing less social interactions. Theme B, feeling and encounter with pacemaker, subthemes were experience of first encounter, feeling of living with pacemaker, how to get used to pacemaker and satisfaction with pacemaker. Feelings of first encounter consisted of fear, sickness and shock when finding out they needed a pacemaker. Some of the participates did not feel comfortable living with the pacemaker. It

Coping with a pacemaker was described as either a spontaneous process or a compulsory process. In general the participants were satisfied with the performance of the device. Lastly, in the theme of source of comfort, the subthemes included good family support, appropriate performance of hospital and staff and role of religious beliefs. For good family support, most of the participants were happy and satisfied with their support system and considered it as an effective factor of tolerating the device. A large majority of the staff were satisfied with the performance of the hospital staff and doctors. Religious faith helped some of the participants by decreasing the fear of possible outcomes such as death.
In the conclusion of this study, the authors review the results of the patients which showed different feelings about living with a pacemaker. These feelings ranged from fear and shock to spontaneous or habitual adaptation of the device. This study examined the