This was a three-group, repeated measures, randomized controlled trial. A total of 196 eligible patients were recruited and the patients at each stage were randomly allocated to one of the following three groups: the Conventional group (n = 67), the Patient Education group (‘‘sham’’ group) (n = 64), or the exercise stage-matched intervention group (n = 65) using a random number table. Data were collected at baseline (T0), immediate post-intervention (T1), and 3-month (T2) and 6-month (T3) follow- up by a registered nurse who was blind to the study’s design, group assignment and intervention implementation.