A WeChat-Based Mobile Platform for Perioperative Health Education for Gastrointestinal Surgery

Area of Science:

• Surgical Patient Education
• Digital Health Interventions
• Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

• Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols shorten hospital stays, limiting traditional pre- and post-operative patient education.
• Effective patient instruction is crucial for successful surgical recovery.
• There is a need for accessible and repeatable patient education resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To embed perioperative health education for gastrointestinal surgery onto a WeChat-based mobile platform.
• To evaluate the platform's effectiveness and usability for patient health education.
• To assess the platform's value from both healthcare professional and patient perspectives.

Main Methods:

• Development of a WeChat-based mobile platform containing perioperative health education content for gastrointestinal surgery.
• Evaluation of the platform using medical staff assessments, patient volunteer feedback, and a quantitative grading rubric.
• Analysis of user experience regarding design, navigation, and educational adequacy.

Main Results:

• Medical staff (clinicians and nurses) found the mobile platform to be attractively designed and user-friendly.
• Healthcare professionals deemed the platform valuable and sufficient for patient health education.
• The platform allows patients and caregivers to access and review educational content at their convenience.

Conclusions:

• A WeChat-based mobile platform can effectively deliver perioperative health education for gastrointestinal surgery patients.
• This digital approach supports patient learning and recovery amidst reduced hospital stays.
• The platform offers a valuable, accessible, and repeatable resource for surgical patient education.