Effects of a nurse-led transitional care programme on readmission, self-efficacy to implement health-promoting behaviours, functional status and life quality among Chinese patients with coronary artery disease: A randomised controlled trial.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness of a nurse-led transitional care programme on readmission, self-efficacy to implement health-promoting behaviours, functional status and life quality among Chinese patients with coronary artery disease. BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease is a major cause of mortality in China. Transitional care could help to ensure improved patient outcomes. Nevertheless, our knowledge of how to perform transitional care for patients with coronary artery disease is insufficient in mainland China. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. METHODS: The nurse-led transitional care intervention in the experimental group adopted the Omaha system and Pender's health-promoting model as its frameworks. The control group received a comparable length routine care and follow-up contacts. Evaluations were conducted at baseline before discharge and after 7 months after discharge using hospital readmission rate, self-rated abilities for health practices scale and Seattle Angina Questionnaire for functional status and life quality. Data were collected between March 2014-October 2014. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, participants in the experimental group showed greater self-efficacy to implement health-promoting behaviours, more angina stability, less angina frequency, more satisfaction with treatment and better quality of life. The difference in readmission rate and physical limitations was not significant between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of a nurse-led transitional care programme in improving the ability to implement health-promoting behaviours, the functional status and life quality among Chinese patients with coronary artery disease. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The nurse-led transitional care programme is helpful for coronary artery disease patients to promote their effective transfer from hospital to community and provide an evidence for nursing managers to train their nurses for transitional care knowledge and skills.

Effects of a nurse-led transitional care program on clinical outcomes, health-related knowledge, physical and mental health status among Chinese patients with coronary artery disease: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among adults worldwide, including China. After a hospital stay, transitional care could help to ensure improved patient care and outcomes, and reduce Medicare costs. Nevertheless, the results of the existing transitional care are not always satisfactory and our knowledge of how to perform effective transitional care for patients with coronary artery disease is limited in mainland China. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness of a nurse-led transitional care program on clinical outcomes, health-related knowledge, and physical and mental health status among Chinese patients with coronary artery disease. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. METHODS: The Omaha system and Pender's health promoting model were employed in planning and implementing this nurse-led transitional care program. The sample was comprised of 199 Chinese patients with coronary artery disease. The experimental group (n=100) received nurse-led transitional care intervention in addition to routine care. The nurse-led transitional care intervention included a structured assessment and health education, followed by 7 months of individual teaching and coaching (home visits, telephone follow-up and group activity). The control group (n=99) received a comparable length routine care and follow-up contacts. Evaluations were conducted at baseline and completion of the interventions using the perceived knowledge scale for coronary heart disease, the medical outcomes study 36-item short-form health survey and clinical measures (blood pressure, blood glucose, lipids, body mass index). Data were collected between March and October 2014. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, participants in the experimental group showed significant better clinical outcomes (systolic blood pressure, t=5.762, P=0.000; diastolic blood pressure, t=4.250, P=0.000; fasting blood glucose, t=2.249, P=0.027; total cholesterol, t=4.362, P=0.000; triglyceride, t=3.147, P=0.002; low density lipoprotein cholesterol, t=2.399, P=0.018; and body mass index, t=3.166, P=0.002), higher knowledge scores for coronary artery disease (total knowledge score, t=-7.099, P=0.000), better physical health status (t=-2.503, P=0.014) and mental health status (t=-2.950, P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence for the value of a nurse-led transitional care program using both the Omaha system and Pender's health promoting model as its theoretical framework. The structured interventions in this nurse-led transitional care program facilitate the use of this program in other settings.

The mediating role of emotional intelligence between negative life events and psychological distress among nursing students: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have highlighted that negative life events and emotional intelligence are significant predictors of mental health. However, whether emotional intelligence mediates the relationship between negative life events and psychological distress among nursing students have not been given adequate attention. OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship among negative life events, emotional intelligence and psychological distress and to examine the mediating role of emotional intelligence in psychological distress among Chinese nursing students. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey using convenience sampling. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 467 nursing students who were enrolled in a university in mainland of China. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was administered from September-November in 2013 to participants who consented to participate in the study. Independent variables were personal variables, emotional intelligence and negative life events. Outcome variable was psychological health. The means and standard deviations were computed. Student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed, to test the differences among the demographic characteristics on the psychological distress scores. Pearson correlation analyses and hierarchical regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Negative life events were positively associated with psychological distress. Emotional intelligence was negatively associated with psychological distress and negative life events. Emotional intelligence mediated the relationship between negative life events and psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the theory of Salovey and his colleagues, and provide evidence for emotional intelligence as a factor that buffers effects of negative life events on psychological distress.