Do empowered stroke patients perform better at self-management and functional recovery after a stroke? A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Self-management after a stroke is a challenge because of multifaceted care needs and complex disabling consequences that cause further hindrance to patient participation. A 13-week stroke patient empowerment intervention (Health Empowerment Intervention for Stroke Self-management [HEISS]) was developed to enhance patients' ability to participate in self-management.

Purpose: To examine the effects of the empowerment intervention on stroke patients' self-efficacy, self-management behavior, and functional recovery.

Tai chi qigong as a means to improve night-time sleep quality among older adults with cognitive impairment: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Age-related cognitivee decline is a growing public health concern worldwide. More than a quarter of adults with cognitive impairment experience sleep disturbance. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the preliminary effects of tai chi qigong (TCQ) on improving the night-time sleep quality of older adults with cognitive impairment.

Evolvement of left ventricular assist device: the implications on heart failure management.

Heart failure (HF) is a potentially fatal disease that affects increasing number of people worldwide. Although heart transplant is the "gold standard" therapy for HF, due to the limited availability of organs, many patients died when waiting for the transplant. Left ventricular assist device (LVAD), as a mechanical circulatory support, has become a new light for patients with HF.

Effects of a nurse-led heart failure clinic on hospital readmission and mortality in Hong Kong.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a physically and socially debilitating disease that carries the burden of hospital re-admission and mortality. As an aging society, Hong Kong urgently needs to find ways to reduce the hospital readmission of HF patients. This study evaluates the effects of a nurse-led HF clinic on the hospital readmission and mortality rates among older HF patients in Hong Kong.

Symptom clusters and quality of life among patients with advanced heart failure.

Objectives: To identify symptom clusters among patients with advanced heart failure (HF) and the independent relationships with their quality of life (QoL).

Methods: This is the secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study which interviewed 119 patients with advanced HF in the geriatric unit of a regional hospital in Hong Kong. The symptom profile and QoL were assessed by using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the McGill QoL Questionnaire.

Retracted: Can the transtheoretical model motivate patients with coronary heart disease to exercise?

Li-Xia Zhu, Shuk-Ching Ho, Janet WH Sit and Hong-Gu He The above article from Nursing & Health Sciences, "Can the transtheoretical model motivate patients with coronary heart disease to exercise?" by Li-Xia Zhu, Shuk-Ching Ho, Janet WH Sit and Hong-Gu He, published online on 4th June 2014 on Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinlibrary.com) DOI: 10.1111/nhs.