No abstract

BackgroundPreventable poor health outcomes associated with atrial fibrillation continue to make early detection a priority. A one-lead mobile electrocardiogram (mECG) device given to patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) allowed users to receive real-time ECG readings in 30 seconds.ObjectiveThree cases were selected from an institutional review board-approved clinical trial aimed at assessing mECG device usage and satisfaction, patient engagement, quality of life (QoL), and cardiac anxiety. These three specific cases were selected to examine a variety of possible patient presentations and user experiences.MethodsThree ICD patients with mobile phones who were being seen in an adult device clinic were asked to participate. The participants chosen represented individuals with varying degrees of reported education and patient engagement. Participants were instructed to use the mECG device at least once per day for 30 days. Positive ECGs for atrial fibrillation were evaluated in clinic. At follow-up, information was collected regarding their frequency of use of the mECG device and three psychological outcomes in the domains of patient engagement, QoL, and cardiac anxiety.ResultsEach patient used the technology approximately daily or every other day as prescribed. At the 30-day follow-up, usage reports indicated an average of 32 readings per month per participant. At 90-day follow-up, usage reports indicated an average of 34 readings per month per participant. Two of the three participants self-reported a significant improvement in their physical QoL from baseline to completion, while simultaneously self-reporting a significant decrease in their mental QoL. All three participants reported high levels of device acceptance and technology satisfaction.ConclusionsThis case study demonstrates that ICD patients with varying degrees of education and patient engagement were relatively active in their use of mECGs. All three participants using the mECG technology reported high technology satisfaction and device acceptance. High sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of mECG technology may allow routine atrial fibrillation screening at lower costs, in addition to improving patient outcomes.

Background Medical technologies for consumers aim to help prevent, manage, and even forecast cardiovascular events, but their emotional impact is not fully known. The value of mobile‐electrocardiogram (mECG) technology to an existing group of cardiac patients is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of readily available mECG capability for a sample of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients. Methods Patients with ICDs (N = 51) were recruited and consented in a large academic cardiology clinic. Participants were given a mECG device and asked to take a 30‐ss reading at least once per day for 30 days. Technology satisfaction, cardiac anxiety, shock anxiety, and ICD device acceptance were measured pre‐ and post‐mECG usage. Results mECG technology was regularly used (M = 36.6 readings completed per month) and positively appraised by ICD patients (mean of 4.4 out of possible 5). Self‐reported symptoms of general cardiac anxiety were not significantly affected by the utilization of mECG technology. ICD specific measures were mixed with increased overall ICD device acceptance but also increased shock anxiety. Conclusions ICD patients positively viewed and used mECG technology regularly as prescribed. However, the overall psychological impact of mECG was mixed and suggests that ICD patients may have idiosyncratic adjustments to the increased access of cardiac device data.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) occurs as a result of alcohol consumption by a woman during pregnancy. Infants with FASD may have lifelong cognitive, behavioral, physical, or learning disabilities as a result. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a type of goal-oriented therapy for improving social, emotional, cognitive, and physical functioning. The use of animal-assisted therapy has been found effective in the treatment of some disabilities; however there is a paucity of literature addressing this therapy for individuals with FASD. This article provides rehabilitation counselors with an overview of FASD, followed by a review of AAT, and then an application of AAT to developmental disabilities and more specifically to FASD.

No abstract

No abstract