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.