Research

Dr. Sears has devoted his career to developing techniques that help cardiac patients live their life to the fullest after being implanted with ICDs.  His research has tapped into various psychosocial areas, some of which is being conducted collaboratively with teams in Colorado, the Netherlands, and Australia. 

Research goals of the East Carolina Cardiac Psychology Research Lab:
•   To evaluate the psychosocial and quality of life endpoints of cutting
     edge technologies in cardiac disease management.
•   To establish the utility and effectiveness of a biopsychosocial model in
     the routine care of medical patients spanning the continuum from
     primary care to major medical intervention.
•   To examine the long-term impact of psychological and behavioral
     factors on health and cost outcomes.

Current Grant-funded Research Projects:
The following research is occurring collaboratively in Greenville, NC at Pitt County Memorial Hospital and HealthSteps (an outpatient cardiopulmonary rehabilitation facility).
•    Establishing a Standard Peri-Operative ICD Patient Education (Sears,
     S. F., Fuenzalida, C., & Conti, J. B.)
•    Does ICD Therapy with Fluid Management Improve Patient
     Acceptance, Perceived Control, and Quality of Life? (Sears, S. F.,
     Matchett, M., & Pitzalis, M.)
•    Shock Acceptance Strategies: Randomized Trial Examining Sedation
     in DFT Testing at Initial Implant (Sears, S. F. & Conti, J. B.)

Click here for information about lab members' dissertation studies

Domains of Previous Research:
-   Quality of Life
-   Depression and anxiety
-   Device-specific shock anxiety
-   Patient acceptance
-   Psychosocial interventions -patient education (and role of computers)
-   Quality of Death
-   Female body image
-   Marital adjustment/spousal adjustment
-   Device recalls
-   Young ICD recipients

The East Carolina Cardiac Psychology Research Lab is modeled after the work and history of the highly productive and successful lab at the University of Florida, Gainesville.  Both labs were created by Dr. Sam Sears and are maintained by his doctoral students.