The long-term effect of an audio-visual relaxation training (RT) treatment involving deep breathing, exercise, muscle relaxation, guided imagery and meditation was compared with routine nursing care for reducing anxiety, improving sleep and promoting relaxation in Chinese adults with cardiac disease. A quasi-experimental, two-group, pretest/post-test design was used. A convenience sample of 100 cardiology patients was studied for 1 year. RT significantly improved anxiety, sleep and relaxation in the treatment group as compared to the control group. It appears that audio-visual RT might be a beneficial adjunctive therapy for adult cardiac patients.