Internet-based Intervention in Cardioverter-defibrillator Patients to Enhance Quality of Life (WEBCARE)

Tilburg University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators; Heart Diseases

Treatments: Behavioral: web-based multifactorial intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00895700

UVT-MP-001

Details and patient eligibility

About

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is generally well-accepted by patients, but a subgroup experiences increased anxiety and poor quality of life. A web-based behavioral intervention may comprise a novel approach to reduce anxiety and enhance well-being in ICD patients, which may be equally effective and have advantages over more traditional forms of therapy, due to its low-threshold accessibility via the internet.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether patients receiving a behavioral intervention via the internet experience less anxiety and device concerns and improved quality of life compared to patients receiving usual care.

Enrollment: 350 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• patients implanted with a cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)
• between 18-75 years of age
• speaking and understanding Dutch
• with access to the internet and ability to use the internet
• providing written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• a life expectancy less than 1 year
• a history of psychiatric illness other than affective/anxiety disorders
• on the waiting list for heart transplantation
• with insufficient knowledge of the Dutch language

Trial design

350 participants in 2 patient groups

Web-based behavioral intervention

Experimental group

Treatment:

Behavioral: web-based multifactorial intervention

Usual care

No Intervention group

Treatment:

Behavioral: web-based multifactorial intervention