Objective: This study aimed to explore the effectiveness and applicability of a psychological intervention using virtual reality (VR) to reduce preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS).Methods: A total of 114 patients aged 18–86 years who were scheduled to undergo CAS were randomized to the VR and control groups. Patients in the VR group used a VR headset to view a 16-min psychological intervention video, while those in the control group used a tablet for viewing. The primary assessment instrument was the State Anxiety Inventory (S-AI), which was given 20 min before and after the intervention and 24 h after surgery. Secondary assessment tools were the Self-efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease (SEMCD-6) scale, which was completed before the intervention and 24 h after the operation, a smart bracelet to assess sleep quality, monitored in the evening before the operation, and the VR Suitability and Satisfaction Questionnaire, completed 24 h after the operation.Results: The two groups were similar in terms of demographic information, preintervention STAI scores and preintervention SEMCD-6 scores (p > 0.05). S-AI scores were lower in both groups after the intervention and surgery, and the scores of the VR group were lower than those of the control group (p = 0.036, p = 0.014). SEMCD-6 scores post-surgery had improved in both groups, but the VR group had significantly higher scores than the control group (p = 0.005). Smart bracelet measurements showed no significant differences in postintervention sleep quality between the two groups (p = 0.540). For satisfaction, the VR group scored higher in all aspects except scheduling. A total of 47 (85.45%) patients reported having a comfortable experience, and only 5 (9.09%) experienced mild adverse effects.Conclusion: The use of a virtual reality psychological intervention was beneficial to reduce the anxiety of patients before CAS and improved their self-efficacy. As virtual reality devices evolve and demonstrate better comfort and safety, more comprehensive and in-depth research of the use of VR to reduce patient anxiety should be performed in the future.Clinical trial registration:https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=186412, identifier ChiCTR2200066219.

Background. The relationship among comfort, perceived social support, and hope should still be further explored. Clarifying the relationship between the aforementioned variables can enable clinical staff to implement tailored and effective intervention strategies for enhancing the management and quality of care of patients with ischemic stroke. Aim. This study aims to investigate the relationship between comfort, perceived social support, and hope in hospitalized patients with acute ischemic stroke and to explore the mediating effect of perceived social support on comfort and hope. Methods. A correlational cross‐sectional study was performed using an online questionnaire. The study was conducted from January to August 2023 among 572 patients with acute ischemic stroke, and finally 534 valid questionnaires were included in the analysis. The general information questionnaire, Modified Barthel Index, Shortened General Comfort Questionnaire, Perceived Social Support Scale, and Herth Hope Index were utilized for investigation. Mediation analysis was performed by structural equation modelling. Indirect effects were evaluated through bootstrapping. Data analysis was performed using the statistical program packages, namely, SPSS 29.0 and AMOS 24.0. Results. The comfort, perceived social support, and hope scores of patients with acute ischemic stroke were 94.1 (11.92), 72.74 (10.26), and 40.55 (4.99), respectively. The participants’ hope was positively related to comfort (r = 0.531, p < 0.001) and perceived social support (r = 0.589, p < 0.001). Perceived social support exerts a partial mediating role between comfort and hope, and the mediating effect was 0.159 (95% CI [0.117, 0.210]), accounting for 25.0% of the total effect. Conclusion. We reported that comfort—directly and indirectly—exerts a positive impact on hope. Particularly, perceived social support enhances the impact of comfort on hope; perceived social support mediates the relationship between comfort and hope. Clinical staff should correctly understand the relationship among the three variables; they should effects targeted strategies to enhance patient comfort and social support, thereby increasing the hope level among ischemic stroke patients and bolstering confidence in disease management. Implications for Nursing Management. This study demonstrates that comfort and perceived social support serve as protective factors for hope among ischemic stroke patients. This observation provides evidence supporting the optimization of management for ischemic stroke patients from the perspectives of the cognitive adaptation theory and comfort theory. The findings of this study contribute to a more optimal understanding among clinical caregivers regarding the mechanisms underlying the relationship between comfort, social support, and hope, and it facilitates the adoption of effective intervention strategies for promoting the psychological management of ischemic stroke patients and enhancing patient care quality.

Objectives: To explore the status and related factors of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of poststroke dysphagia among neurological nurses in China. Methods: Neurological nurses from 40 tertiary hospitals in Southwest China were invited to complete a survey on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the nursing of poststroke dysphagia. We used a questionnaire to collect the participants’ information including the basic characteristics and the KAP Questionnaire on poststroke dysphagia in the neurological ward. A sample of 707 participants completed the survey. Results: The knowledge, attitude, and practice scores for the nursing of poststroke dysphagia were 12.00±4.09, 71.99±11.00, 52.22±9.08, respectively. The total score of knowledge towards the nursing of poststroke dysphagia was significantly different among nurses with different ages, working time of nursing, working time of nursing in neurology, the highest level of education, professional title, position, the method of training, the number of dysphagia-related nursing trainings, the total length of dysphagia nursing training, and the nursing basis of patients with dysphagia. The total score of attitudes towards the nursing of poststroke dysphagia was significantly different among nurses with the way they were trained, and the nursing basis for patients with dysphagia. The total score of practice towards poststroke dysphagia was significantly different among nurses with the number of dysphagia-related nursing trainings, the total length of dysphagia nursing training, the training method, and the basis of nursing patients with dysphagia. Conclusion: Neurological nurses’ knowledge score in poststroke dysphagia is relatively low, and the knowledge level needs improvement. The attitude and practice score of neurological nurses in dysphagia after stroke was much better than the knowledge score. Managers and nursing researchers should develop and offer effective training for neurological nurses to improve their knowledge, attitude and practice towards poststroke dysphagia, and then improve patients’ health outcomes.

The care model composed of a multidisciplinary team is the best model to promote stroke rehabilitation. The objective of this study was to explore the effect of nurse-led rapid rehabilitation on mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study used a non-randomized, historically controlled clinical trial design to compare the efficacy of nurse-led rapid and routine rehabilitation after thrombectomy in patients with ischemic stroke. Treatment outcomes, including hospitalization duration, hospitalization costs, scores on multiple scales at discharge, and clinical outcomes 3 months post-discharge, were assessed and compared between the 2 rehabilitation approaches. Our report is based on the STROBE guidelines. The differences in length of stay in hospital (P = .018), hospitalization expense (P < .001), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSS) score at discharge (P < .001), modified Rankin scale (MRS) score at discharge (P < .001), and ADL (Activities of Daily Living) score at discharge (P = .156) between the intervention group and the control group were statistically significant. There were statistically significant differences in anxiety/depression (P = .013) and overall quality of life (P = .017) 3 months after discharge. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis showed that interaction effects between group and time were statistically significant for MRS (OR = 0.231, 95% confidence interval: 0.128–0.417, P < .001). The hospitalization time of patients in the intervention group was shortened, and the hospitalization cost was reduced. There were differences in psychological status, and the overall quality of life and improvement of disability status was better.