Effectiveness of specialist nurse-led WeChat mini program management for disease control in asthma: A randomized...

Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease in childhood, requiring effective management strategies.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led WeChat Mini Program in managing asthma among children aged 6 to 11 years.

This randomized controlled trial adhered to the CONSORT checklist and was conducted at a tertiary hospital in China from January 2023 to August 2023. One hundred and eight children with asthma were randomly assigned to two groups, and 81 children completed the 6-month follow-up. All participants received asthma management from specialist nurses, including routine treatments such as inhaled corticosteroids. The experimental group also utilized the WeChat Mini Program for asthma management. Both groups underwent follow-up assessments at 3 and 6 months post-enrollment, which included the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT), asthma control levels, frequency of exacerbations, and lung function.

At 3 and 6 months, the experimental group showed significantly higher C-ACT scores and a lower exacerbation frequency compared to the control group (p < 0.05). While Peak Expiratory Flow improved, Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second Percentage Predicted (FEV1%) and FEV1/FVC did not change significantly.

The WeChat Mini Program significantly improved asthma control and reduced exacerbations but did not substantially enhance all lung function parameters. Further research is required to confirm its long-term effects.

Incorporating a specialist nurse-led digital management tool, such as the WeChat Mini Program, into standard pediatric asthma care may offer an effective management strategy.