Analysing online forums to identify information needs and knowledge gaps in patients with left ventricular assist devices: a qualitative study.

The article focuses on identifying the unmet informational needs and knowledge gaps of candidates for left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), patients, caregivers, and family members by analyzing social media data from the MyLVAD.com online forum. Through qualitative content analysis of 856 posts from 2015 to 2023, six main categories of information needs were identified: clothing, complications/adverse effects, LVAD pros and cons, self-care, therapy, and recent LVAD implantation, with self-care being the most prominent concern. The study highlights that social media provides an unbiased, real-world perspective on patient experiences and reveals significant gaps in education and support, particularly regarding self-care and decision-making about LVAD therapy. These findings suggest the need for tailored educational resources to better address the evolving concerns of LVAD patients and their support networks.