Individual commitment to healthier lifestyles should be encouraged, and researchers have to design and apply more specific interventions that are directed toward improving factors that are not significantly improved through traditional programs.

The identification of patients' learning needs is an essential step for nurses in order to facilitate the recovery of acute coronary syndrome survivors. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the actual learning needs of these patients and to explore the differences in learning needs on the basis of sociodemographic and clinical variables. Descriptive comparative design was used, and patients' learning needs data were collected through the Patient Learning Needs Scale. The results showed that patients need a high amount of information after this syndrome. The 10 most needed educational topics belonged to the medications and treatment and activities of daily living categories. Older patients and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds requested less information than others did. In conclusion, topics perceived by patients as important and sociodemographic variables should be considered in preparing and providing cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs. Furthermore, these programs should be redesigned considering patients' actual learning needs rather than the expected needs, and they should incorporate medications, treatment and activities of daily living, complications and symptoms, illness-related concerns, and support in the community.

Introduction: Empowering nurses is essential for improving work outcomes, and understanding the role of structural and psychological empowerment in supporting nurses’ work motivation and occupational mental health are essential to stimulate nurses’ productivity and preserve their mental health. Objectives: To evaluate nurses’ perspectives about the levels of structural and psychological empowerment in their working areas. Additionally, to evaluate nurses’ motivation and occupational mental health, and to predict the nurses’ motivation and occupational mental health through structural and psychological empowerment. Methods: A descriptive correlational design and quota sampling were used. Two hundred registered nurses were recruited from two hospitals in Jordan. Data were collected using four valid and reliable self-report questionnaires. Results: Nurses who participated in this study were young and have an average total experience in nursing of fewer than 10 years. Nurses in this study reported a moderate level of structure empowerment and a low level of psychological empowerment. Significant positive relationships were documented between both structural, psychological empowerment, and nurses’ work motivation ( r = 0.85), ( r = 0.83) respectively. A significant negative relationship found between both structural, psychological empowerment, and nurses’ occupational mental health ( r = −0.31), ( r = −0.29) respectively. Conclusions: The levels of nurses’ work motivation and occupational mental health can be predicted through the levels of structural and psychological empowerment. The higher workplace empowerment was associated with increased work motivation, as well as reduced the feeling of occupational stress among nurses. Thus, administrators should invest in fostering structural and psychological empowerment in the work environment.

Scand J Caring Sci; 2011; 25; 404–409 
 Who uses nursing theory? A univariate descriptive analysis of five years’ research articles Background:  Since the early 1950s, nursing leaders have worked diligently to build the Scientific Discipline of Nursing, integrating Theory, Research and Practice. Recently, the role of theory has again come into question, with some scientists claiming nurses are not using theory to guide their research, with which to improve practice. Aims:  The purposes of this descriptive study were to determine: (i) Were nursing scientists’ research articles in leading nursing journals based on theory? (ii) If so, were the theories nursing theories or borrowed theories? (iii) Were the theories integrated into the studies, or were they used as organizing frameworks? Methods:  Research articles from seven top ISI journals were analysed, excluding regularly featured columns, meta‐analyses, secondary analysis, case studies and literature reviews. The authors used King’s dynamic Interacting system and Goal Attainment Theory as an organizing framework. They developed consensus on how to identify the integration of theory, searching the Title, Abstract, Aims, Methods, Discussion and Conclusion sections of each research article, whether quantitative or qualitative. Results:  Of 2857 articles published in the seven journals from 2002 to, and including, 2006, 2184 (76%) were research articles. Of the 837 (38%) authors who used theories, 460 (55%) used nursing theories, 377 (45%) used other theories: 776 (93%) of those who used theory integrated it into their studies, including qualitative studies, while 51 (7%) reported they used theory as an organizing framework for their studies. Closer analysis revealed theory principles were implicitly implied, even in research reports that did not explicitly report theory usage. Conclusions:  Increasing numbers of nursing research articles (though not percentagewise) continue to be guided by theory, and not always by nursing theory. Newer nursing research methods may not explicitly state the use of nursing theory, though it is implicitly implied.

Modern styles of living and the accelerated pace of life could direct people to adopt unhealthy lifestyles. Globally, literature indicates that the percentages of people who adopt healthy lifestyle behaviour (HLB) are disappointing. This study aimed to identify the level of adoption of HLB in Jordanian subjects and to compare the sociodemographic and self-reported clinical history based on the HLB adoption level. Cross-section descriptive study was conducted and Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile-II was used to reflect subjects' adoption of HLB. Through convenience sampling 260 subjects were enrolled; 50% had excess weight, 30% were current smokers, 53% had never had their cholesterol assessed. Findings revealed that subjects were not adopting HLB regularly. Women, married, educated, young subjects and having higher income subjects had higher HLB adoption level. Health-promotion programmes are urgently needed for this community and sociodemographic variables have to be considered throughout preparation, implementation and evaluation phases of such programmes.