Cardiac Arrest Survivorship Research Hub

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the young (<35 years) can be due to an inherited cardiovascular condition. The impact of SCD on the surviving family is significant, with high rates of symptoms of posttraumatic stress and prolonged grief. Using stakeholder codesign we developed COPE-SCD, an online community supporting families after SCD. The intervention includes a website and four online support sessions (general information on SCD, navigating uncertainty, coping with grief and loss both individually and as a family). Here, we aim to develop content and assess the acceptability of the COPE-SCD intervention. Participants were recruited from the Genetic Heart Disease Clinic, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia and EndUCD.org, a patient organization. Website and online session content were developed. Demographic and psychological measures were collected at baseline. "Think aloud" interviews were conducted to assess the website. Online sessions were assessed with post-session questionnaires and qualitative interviews. Both interview schedules and questionnaires were mapped to seven constructs of the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. Interviews from both arms of the study were analyzed using a deductive framework analysis. Six "think aloud" interviews were conducted to assess the website, including feedback on content and layout. Twelve participants, in two groups, completed the four online sessions. Overall, participants liked both parts of the COPE-SCD intervention, particularly the opportunity for peer support. They found the intervention acceptable when considering the seven constructs of the theoretical framework of acceptability. Further work is needed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention as it is implemented into clinical practice. The COPE-SCD intervention provides a new resource for genetic counselors and other healthcare professionals supporting families after SCD.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurs when the heart pauses to function outside of a medical facility. The high mortality rate persists despite advancements in resuscitation research, rendering it a significant global public health issue. To substantially reduce mortality associated with OHCA, a comprehensive understanding of all management phases—pre-hospital, in-hospital, and post-discharge—is essential. Pre-hospital factors, such as community socioeconomic level, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and access to defibrillators, are essential for early survival. In-hospital variables, like the accessibility of round-the-clock cardiac interventional treatments and structured emergency reception systems, can affect outcomes. Post-discharge survival mostly depends on patient adherence to medical and lifestyle interventions, psychological support, and rehabilitation programs. This assessment consolidates information about the factors influencing the management of OHCA and identifies critical issues and opportunities within the Jordanian healthcare system.

This psychometric study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX) following a cardiac event, and to examine the relationship between self- and informant-ratings. Approximately 7 months post-cardiac event, 196 participants and their informants ( = 179) completed the DEX. Reliability was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency estimates. Construct validity was evaluated using two performance-based neuropsychological tests, the Colour-Word Interference Test and the Trail Making Test (TMT), along with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A one-factor model showed acceptable fit for the self-assessed DEX (RMSEA = 0.062) with excellent internal consistency ( > 0.90). Slight positive associations were found between the DEX and the performance-based executive function measures, while strong positive associations emerged between the self-assessed DEX and the HADS. Overall, self-assessed and informant-reported scores did not differ significantly (self-assessed DEX median = 11,- = 5.75-20; informant-reported DEX median = 11,- = 4-19, = 0.924). However, participants with severe executive dysfunction (TMT-B-scores ≤-2) rated their own symptoms as less severe than informants ( = .001), indicating impaired self-awareness in a subgroup of participants. In conclusion, the DEX provides a useful perspective into general executive dysfunction in daily life but should be complemented with performance-based measures.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03543371.