Abstract
We carried out a multicenter survey in 8 French centers. Each patient received a questionnaire to evaluate his perceptions on information and consent, risks associated with pacemaker implantation and ability to perform various routine activities. We included 185 patients. The mean age was 75.4 + 10.5 years. A large number of patients considered many routine activities as unsafe, such as sleeping on the side of the pacemaker (12%), swimming (15%), driving automobiles (17%) and passing through metal detectors (47%). Patients had also misconceptions about using induction hobs (38%) and arc welding equipment (32%). As regards medical imaging, 38% did not know if they could undergo MRI exams. As regards medical follow up, 11% of patients thought they did not need heart medications and 17% that they were exempt from monitoring by a cardiologist. In univariate analysis, the factors associated to misconceptions about pacemakers were an age above 75 years and a primary implantation. The results of our study highlight patients’ misperceptions on life with a pacemaker. This should lead cardiologists to better inform patients at the time of pacemaker implantation.
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