RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

To Test an e-Health Educational Intervention Patients With an ICD

This study is developing an online tool, called CHOICE-ICD, to help people who have or are getting an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). An ICD is a small device that monitors your heart and can give it an electrical shock if it beats too dangerously. Many patients and their families want more information about how these devices work and how to live well with them. The CHOICE-ICD tool will be easy to use, with games, quizzes, animations, and videos to explain everything you need to know. It hopes to lower anxiety, answer common questions, and improve your daily life. A small group of patients in Belfast and Glasgow will try the tool for 3 months, and then share their experiences.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Ulster

Enrolment target

256

Start

11 Aug 2025

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2026

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)

What is this study about?

Imagine you have a special device, called an ICD, placed in your chest that helps your heart beat correctly. Sometimes, people waiting for or who have just received an ICD might have a lot of questions or feel a bit worried about it. This study wants to help with that by creating an online tool called CHOICE-ICD.

The CHOICE-ICD tool is designed to give you all the important information you need about your ICD in a really easy-to-understand way. It's not just text; it will have fun things like games, quizzes, animations that bring information to life, and even short videos from other patients sharing their experiences. The main idea is to make sure you feel more informed, less anxious, and more in control of your health. It aims to improve your day-to-day life with your ICD.

Researchers worked with patients, families, and doctors to design this tool. Now, they are trying it out with a small group of around 128 patients in Belfast and Glasgow. These patients will use CHOICE-ICD for 3 months alongside their usual medical care. After this, they'll be asked to fill out questionnaires and talk about their experiences. This will help the team understand if the tool is helpful and how it can be made even better for more people in the future.

Key takeaways

This study helps people with heart devices (ICDs) understand them better.
It uses an online tool called CHOICE-ICD with games, videos, and quizzes.
The goal is to reduce worries and improve daily life for ICD users.
Participants will use the tool for 3 months and share their feedback.
It's a pilot study, meaning it's testing the tool to see if it works well.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you would need to be an adult (18 years or older) who either has heart failure and is waiting for an ICD, or has recently had one fitted. It's important that you don't have any major memory or thinking problems that would make it hard to understand the study materials.

If you have a caregiver (like a family member or close friend) who helps you often (at least 5 times a week) and is also able to take part, they might be able to join too. They'd need to feel well enough, both physically and mentally, to participate and their patient also needs to be willing to take part.

However, if your heart doctor believes you're not well enough, either physically or mentally, to complete the study, or if you or your caregiver can't agree to take part, then this study wouldn't be right for you. Also, if you are pregnant, you wouldn't be able to join.

Quick self-check

Are you 18 years old or older?
Do you have heart failure and are you waiting for an ICD, or have you recently had one fitted?
Do you feel you can generally understand and participate in online activities?
If you have a caregiver, are they willing and able to take part too?
Are you NOT currently pregnant?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you'll be one of 128 patients involved. You would receive the CHOICE-ICD online tool and use it for 3 months, alongside the usual care you get from your doctor. There won't be any special medications given as part of this study.

Throughout the study, you'll be asked to fill out some questionnaires at the beginning, after 3 months of using the tool, and then again at 6 months. Some participants and their family members will also be invited to have a chat (an interview) about their experiences with the CHOICE-ICD tool. This is to understand what worked well and what could be improved. The total duration of your active involvement with the tool and questionnaires would be about 6 months.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer you the benefit of receiving clear, easy-to-understand information about your ICD, which could help ease any worries and improve your quality of life. There are no known physical risks from taking part, as it's an online educational tool. However, it will require some of your time to use the resource and complete questionnaires, which might feel like a small burden. Remember, joining any study is always your choice, and you are free to stop participating at any time without needing to give a reason, and your medical care will not be affected.

Locations (2)

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Belfast, United Kingdom· Not yet recruiting
Golden Jubilee National Hospital
Glasgow, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is an ICD?

An ICD is a small device implanted in your chest to monitor your heart rate and deliver an electrical pulse if it senses a dangerous rhythm.

What is the CHOICE-ICD tool?

It's an online information and educational tool designed to help people better understand their ICD and how to live with it.

How long will I use the tool?

If you join the study, you will use the CHOICE-ICD tool for 3 months.

Will this replace my usual doctor's visits?

No, you will continue to receive all your normal medical care while using the CHOICE-ICD tool as an extra resource.

Do I have to live in Belfast or Glasgow to join?

For this particular initial study, participants are being recruited from hospitals in Belfast and Glasgow.

How to find out more

Loreena M Prof Loreena M Hill, PhD

l.hill@ulster.ac.uk +44 7841037404 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.