Abstract Number: PB2472
Meeting: ISTH 2020 Congress
Theme: Venous Thromboembolism and Cardioembolism » VTE Treatment
Background: VTE is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and the personal experience of these events can be psychologically challenging. VTE events are known to have significant physical impact however less is known about their psychosocial impact.
Aims: To explore the experiences of individuals following a VTE diagnosis and the psychosocial impact of VTE events.
Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched between 2009 and 2019. All studies identified for the systematic review met inclusion and exclusion criteria and were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) framework and a narrative synthesis was undertaken.
Results: 3493 records were identified, retrieved and screened for eligibility. Six full text studies were included in the systematic review. The narrative synthesis identified two themes with eight subthemes. The first theme ‘Psychological impact of VTE’ had the following subthemes: traumatic life event, misdiagnosis and loss of trust, fear of the future and benefit finding and growth. The second theme, ‘Disruptive impact of VTE to daily activities and life goals’ included the subthemes loss of self, anticoagulation therapy, concealment and isolation, and biographical disruption.
Conclusions: VTE events were identified as traumatic and life changing for individuals. The psychosocial impact of VTE was far reaching, impacting multiple aspects of participant’s lives. Alongside clear evidence of psychosocial impairment there is also evidence that VTE events led to benefit finding and growth. Identifying patients who are at risk of psychosocial impairment and require clinical intervention at critical times may reduce the escalation of the negative psychosocial impact of VTE. Current practice and service provision has the potential for development to better integrate physical and mental health care.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Saul G, Gee E, Speed V, Jordan C. The Psychosocial Impact of Venous Thromboembolism: An Exploratory Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis [abstract]. Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2020; 4 (Suppl 1). https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/the-psychosocial-impact-of-venous-thromboembolism-an-exploratory-systematic-review-and-narrative-synthesis/. Accessed October 1, 2023.« Back to ISTH 2020 Congress
ISTH Congress Abstracts - https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/the-psychosocial-impact-of-venous-thromboembolism-an-exploratory-systematic-review-and-narrative-synthesis/