ANXIETY ASSOCIATED WITH AN IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATOR AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEEDS AMONG WOMEN WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Anxiety is a significant concern for women with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) during their reproductive years. Although ICDs have become a primary treatment option for certain cardiac conditions, managing anxiety and promoting well-being in pregnant women with ICDs remains challenging. The American Heart Association's recommendations for pregnant individuals with ICDs lacks specificities. Thus, this study aimed to identify clinical characteristics that may impact anxiety in women with ICDs. In Aim 1, we conducted a scoping review following PRISMA guidelines to identify relevant articles. The screening and data extraction process involved Covidence software and three additional reviewers. Our focus was to compare women with and without ICDs. The results revealed one systematic review and 68 case studies or case series, with 25 conducted in the US. However, the reviewed studies had limited demographic information.For Aim 2, we assessed the feasibility of using the UNC Cardiac Device Surveillance Registry for recruitment and the acceptability of using Qualtrics software for questionnaire administration. Out of 85 individuals contacted, we recruited 7 participants (8.2% of the potential pool). We found UNC MyChart impractical. Data collection methods varied, with five participants using pen and paper and two entering data directly into Qualtrics. Participants found both methods satisfactory, although some sociodemographic and clinical characteristic data were missing. The measurement tools (FSAS, CAQ, BIQS) were well-received, although the BIQS required additional explanation. We assessed feedback on survey questions, such as gender options and family history, and participants were given the opportunity to provide further feedback. In Aim 3, the Adaptive Leadership Framework was applied to analyze interview data. Content analysis resulted in the responses categorized by adaptive and technical challenges. The results highlighted themes related to adjusting to medical devices and beliefs about provider responsibility. The study emphasized the importance of self-advocacy and identified potential factors for future research.In summary, this study emphasizes the need to address anxiety in reproductive-age women with ICDs and provides insights into the clinical characteristics that impact anxiety. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of using the UNC Cardiac Device Surveillance Registry and Qualtrics software for research purposes.