Cardiol Res

Cardiology Research, ISSN 1923-2829 print, 1923-2837 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, Cardiol Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://www.cardiologyres.org

Short Communication

Volume 9, Number 4, August 2018, pages 239-243

A Community Level Sample Survey to Determine CurrentUnderstanding About Medical Recycling of Cardiovascular ImplantableElectronic Devices

Figure 1. Bar diagram showing comparative responses about pre-existing knowledgeabout medical device and/or medical devices recycling among respondersfrom community (including funeral homes) versus healthcare personnel.

Figure 2. (a) Response among community participants about how likely theyare to personally consider/influence a decision about medical devicedonation (on a scale of 1 - 5). (b) Response among healthcare professionals(lower table) about how likely they are to personally consider/influencea decision about medical device donation (on a scale of 1 - 5).

Figure 3. Both healthcare and community level participants in the surveyheavily preferred the donation of medical devices to local peopleover sending them to foreign countries.

**Table 1.** Questionnaire Used for Survey
1	Before beginning this survey, have youheard the term “medical device recycling” and/or “medicaldevices recycling?”
2	Do you have any medical devices implantedin you like pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator?
3	Do you know any family members or friendsthat have medical devices implanted in them like pacemakers or defibrillators?
4	On review of is that these devices couldpotentially be removed after death and donated to other people?
5	Before this questionnaire, were youaware that there are people in the world who die of heart diseasesbecause they cannot afford pacemakers or defibrillators?
6	On a scale of 1 - 5, how likely areyou to personally consider/influence a decision about medical donation?
7	Do you think participation in medicaldevice donation adds meaning to one’s life?
8	Do your beliefs (religious or otherwise)potentially disallow U from participating in device donation?
9	In your mind, what is the most importantconcern about medical device donation?
10	What do you think mostly happens tothese medical devices?
11	Roughly what percentages of it do youthink are trashed?
12	Roughly what percentages do think thatgiven to other people in need?
13	If there was a mechanism where medicaldevices and/or devices could be donated legally to poor and needypeople overseas, would you be willing to spread the word and/or participatein the same?
14	If there was a mechanism where medicaldevices and/or devices could be donated to needy people locally inthe community, would you be willing to spread the word and/or participatein the same?
15	Do you think participation in devicedonation adds meaning to your organization’s core mission?
16	Would the hospital or healthcare organizationyou associate with be willing to potentially implement a program ofpost-mortem CIED donation?
17	Would the hospital or healthcare organizationyou associate with be willing to potentially implement a program ofpost-mortem CIED donation?
18	Would your organization’s beliefsand values potentially disallow you from participating in device donation?
19	We would welcome your additional inputon the topic. Questions? Ideas? Thoughts? Concerns?

Table 1. Questionnaire Used for Survey

Before beginning this survey, have youheard the term “medical device recycling” and/or “medicaldevices recycling?”

Do you have any medical devices implantedin you like pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator?

Do you know any family members or friendsthat have medical devices implanted in them like pacemakers or defibrillators?

On review of is that these devices couldpotentially be removed after death and donated to other people?

Before this questionnaire, were youaware that there are people in the world who die of heart diseasesbecause they cannot afford pacemakers or defibrillators?

On a scale of 1 - 5, how likely areyou to personally consider/influence a decision about medical donation?

Do you think participation in medicaldevice donation adds meaning to one’s life?

Do your beliefs (religious or otherwise)potentially disallow U from participating in device donation?

In your mind, what is the most importantconcern about medical device donation?

What do you think mostly happens tothese medical devices?

Roughly what percentages of it do youthink are trashed?

Roughly what percentages do think thatgiven to other people in need?

If there was a mechanism where medicaldevices and/or devices could be donated legally to poor and needypeople overseas, would you be willing to spread the word and/or participatein the same?

If there was a mechanism where medicaldevices and/or devices could be donated to needy people locally inthe community, would you be willing to spread the word and/or participatein the same?

Do you think participation in devicedonation adds meaning to your organization’s core mission?

Would the hospital or healthcare organizationyou associate with be willing to potentially implement a program ofpost-mortem CIED donation?

Would your organization’s beliefsand values potentially disallow you from participating in device donation?

We would welcome your additional inputon the topic. Questions? Ideas? Thoughts? Concerns?

**Table 2.** Concerns About CIED Donation
Answer choices	Responses by healthcare professionals	Responses by community members
I am concerned about disfiguring one’sbody after death	4 (4.49%)	8 (6.96%)
I am concerned about risk of infection	40 (44.94%)	57 (49.57%)
I think this may be illegal	9 (10.11%)	3 (2.61%)
I think there may be potential threatof lawsuits in device malfunctions	39 (43.82%)	25 (21.74%)
I have no concerns	26 (29.21%)	0
Multiple above concerns	11 (12.36%)	22(19.13%)

Table 2. Concerns About CIED Donation

Answer choices

Responses by healthcare professionals

Responses by community members

I am concerned about disfiguring one’sbody after death

4 (4.49%)

8 (6.96%)

I am concerned about risk of infection

40 (44.94%)

57 (49.57%)

I think this may be illegal

9 (10.11%)

3 (2.61%)

I think there may be potential threatof lawsuits in device malfunctions

39 (43.82%)

25 (21.74%)

I have no concerns

26 (29.21%)

Multiple above concerns

11 (12.36%)

22(19.13%)