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Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of early ambulation after cardiac catheterization (CC) on patients' back pain, puncture site pain, vascular complications, urinary discomfort, general well-being perception and satisfaction level. Methods: This study was a randomized single-blinded controlled trial. Overall, 137 participants were randomly assigned to experimental (63 participants) or control (74 participants) group according to a computer generated random list. Early ambulation (ambulate at 4 hours post-CC) and routine post-procedure care of 12 to 24 hours were used in the experimental and control groups respectively. Independent t-test, Chi-square test, multiple logistic regression and generalized estimation equation model were applied to compare various outcomes between experimental and control groups. Results: Only one patient in the control group experienced puncture site bleeding after CC. Ambulation at 4 hours after CC significantly reduced patients' back pain 8 hours after they returned to the unit (OR=0.19, 95% CI: 0.08-0.45, p<0.001) and in the next morning (OR=0.36, 95% CI: 0.15-0.87, p=0.023), decrease urinary discomfort (OR=0.35, 95% CI: 0.14-0.90, p=0.03 for "very or unbearable urination discomfort" and OR=0.22, 95% CI: 0.06-0.74, p=0.015 for "much difficulty or unable to urinate at all"), and increase general well- being (p=0.005 for vitality subscale and p=0.014 for the total general well-being). However, it made no significant differences on puncture site pain as well as the satisfaction level of patients. Conclusion: The study enhanced health providers' understanding about the effects of early ambulation on patient outcomes. Nurses may provide more individualized and appropriate care to post-CC patients in a more competent and cost-effective way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To identify the learning needs of patients with heart failure (HF) in China and to examine the relationships between learning needs and patients' characteristics. Background: Little information on the learning needs of patients with HF in China is known. Besides, it is important to identify the potential characteristics that may influence patients' perceived learning needs. Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in three university affiliated hospitals in Xi'an, Mainland China. A total of 347 HF patients selected by convenience sampling were investigated using the Chinese version of the HF learning needs inventory. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, Pearson correlation, and one-way analysis of variance were used for data analysis. Results: The mean scores rated by Chinese patients with HF were lower than the corresponding scores rated by patients of Western countries. Information on risk factors, prognosis, general HF information and medications were identified as the most important topics while lifestyle modification and psychological factors were regarded as the least important ones. Age negatively correlated with the learning needs on activity (r = -0.125) and prognosis information (r = -0.141). Educational level was significantly related to the learning needs about risk factors. Conclusion: Patients with HF in China considered most of the topics important for them to learn. Age and educational level were related with the learning needs on only three topics including activity, prognosis information and risk factors. Relevance to clinical practice: The study findings may be used by health professionals to develop tailored educational programme for patients with HF in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]