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The WeChat platform-based health education improves health outcomes among patients with stable coronary artery
GuanYang Kang1, HuiQing Zhang2, Jian Zhou3
1Department of Cardiology, Bin Hai Wan Central Hospital of Dongguan, The Dongguan Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University (also called The Fifth People's Hospital of Dongguan, Taiping People's Hospital of Dongguan), Dongguan, Guangdong, China.
Insights
WeChat health education significantly improved stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patient outcomes, including blood pressure, lipids, and mental health, compared to usual care. This digital approach enhances patient knowledge and quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Digital Health
- Health Education
Background:
- Stable coronary artery disease (CAD) requires ongoing patient management and education.
- Traditional health education methods may have limitations in reach and engagement.
- Social media platforms offer novel avenues for patient education and support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of WeChat platform-based health education for patients with stable CAD.
- To compare health outcomes between patients receiving WeChat education and those receiving usual care.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 200 stable CAD patients over 12 months.
- Intervention group received WeChat health education alongside usual care.
- Control group received only usual care.
- Coprimary outcomes included blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, anxiety and depression scores (HAMA, HAMD), and quality of life (SAQ).
Main Results:
- WeChat group showed significant improvements in CAD knowledge compared to baseline and control.
- Systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol significantly decreased in the WeChat group.
- Anxiety (HAMA) and depression (HAMD) scores decreased more significantly in the WeChat group.
- Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores were significantly higher in all dimensions for the WeChat group at 1-year follow-up.
Conclusions:
- WeChat platform-based health education is highly effective in improving health outcomes for patients with stable CAD.
- Social media platforms show significant potential as valuable tools for cardiovascular disease health education.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the WeChat platform-based health education on patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with usual care.
Methods:
We conducted a randomized controlled trial that included patients with stable CAD who were admitted to the Bin Hai Wan Central Hospital of Dongguan between January 2020 and December 2020. Participants in the control group received a standard regimen of care. In the WeChat group, the patients were provided with the WeChat platform-based health education by multidisciplinary team members in addition to usual care. The coprimary outcome of the study was the blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scores, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores and Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores at 12 months, relative to baseline levels.
Results:
Between January 2020 and December 2020, 200 eligible CAD patients were randomly assigned to WeChat group (n = 100) or usual care group (n = 100). After 12 months, the number of participants who knew the risk factors, symptoms, diagnostic criteria, management methods and treating target of CAD was significantly larger in the WeChat group than at baseline (P < 0.05) and also larger than the post-intervention level of the control group (P < 0.05). The systolic blood pressure after intervention of the WeChat group significantly decreased compared to those of the control group (132.06 ± 8.87 mmHg vs 140.32 ± 9.42 mmHg; P < 0.05). After intervention, the triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of the WeChat group significantly decreased compared to those at baseline and significantly decreased than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). After the intervention, scores of HAMA and HAMD both significantly decreased in the two groups. Moreover, the decreases were more significant in the WeChat group than in the control group (5.78 ± 0.98 vs 8.54 ± 1.24; 6.27 ± 1.03 vs 8.63 ± 1.66; P < 0.05). The SAQ scores of WeChat group were significantly higher than those of the control group in all 5 dimensions at the 1-year follow-up (72.71 ± 10.83 vs 59.32 ± 9.86; 80.01 ± 11.56 vs 61.98 ± 11.02; 76.76 ± 12.64 vs 65.22 ± 10.72; 83.17 ± 13.06 vs 67.01 ± 12.86; 71.82 ± 12.78 vs 55.79 ± 11.90; all P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
This study showed the high efficacy of the WeChat platform-based health education in improving health outcomes in patients with CAD.
Practice Implications:
This study highlighted the potential of social media as a helpful tool for health education among patients with CAD.
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