Smartphone Application WeChat for Clinical Follow-up of Discharged Patients with Head and Neck Tumors: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Caregiver's experiences with a mobile-based educational program and its impact on dietary treatment compliance of children with methylmalonic acidemia: an online survey

BACKGROUND

Compliance to highly restrictive diets is critical for children with Methylmalonic Acidemia (MMA), and their caregivers play a prominent role in children's dietary treatment from early childhood through to adulthood. Despite lots of efforts by the multidisciplinary medical team to ensure the smooth implementation of dietary treatment, restricting dietary protein remains particularly challenging for children with MMA. This study aimed to assess dietary treatment compliance in children with MMA and evaluate the impact of WeChat-based parent education on compliance.

METHODS

A sample of 151 caregiver-child dyads was obtained through online recruitment using convenience sampling from February to March 2023. At least one month following the enrollment of MMA caregivers in the WeChat public account "Methylmalonic Acidemia Diet Manager", structured questionnaires were distributed to them through the electronic platform "Questionnaire Star" in collaboration with the Chinese National Alliance of Rare Diseases. Subsequently, the collected data was analyzed using quantitative methods.

RESULTS

Children with MMA aged over 5 years were more likely to present a lower level of dietary treatment compliance compared to those under 1 year old. Besides, the levels of children's dietary treatment compliance were higher when their caregivers had higher levels of satisfaction and benefit from using the public account.

CONCLUSION

Our findings highlighted the significance of age-related challenges in dietary treatment compliance among children with MMA and the promising impact of utilizing WeChat public accounts as a supportive education tool.

Efficacy of a WeChat-Based, Multidisciplinary, Full-Course Nutritional Management Program on the Nutritional Status of Patients With Ovarian Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

As the most malignant type of cancer in the female reproductive system, ovarian cancer (OC) has become the second leading cause of death among Chinese women. Chemotherapy is the main treatment for patients with OC, and its numerous adverse effects can easily lead to malnutrition. It is difficult to centrally manage patients with OC in the intervals between chemotherapy. The use of WeChat, an effective mobile tool, in chronic disease management has been highlighted.

Objective

This study aimed to implement a continuous follow-up strategy and health monitoring based on the WeChat platform for patients with OC undergoing chemotherapy to ensure that each phase of chemotherapy was delivered on schedule and to improve the survival rate of patients with OC.

Methods

Participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the WeChat-based nutrition intervention group or the usual care group. A self-administered general information questionnaire was used at enrollment to obtain basic information about the patients. The Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) Scale was used to investigate the nutritional status of the patients at 3 time points (T0=before the first admission to the hospital for chemotherapy, T1=2 weeks after the first chemotherapy, and T6=2 weeks after the sixth chemotherapy). The blood indices of patients were investigated through the inhospital health care system at 3 times（T0=before the first admission to the hospital for chemotherapy, T1=2 weeks after the first chemotherapy, and T6=2 weeks after the sixth chemotherapy). Patients in the intervention group were introduced to the nutrition applet, invited to join the nutrition management group chat, and allowed to consult on nutritional issues in private chats with nutrition management team members. Linear mixed models were used to analyze changes in each nutritional indicator in the 2 groups, with their baseline measurements as covariates; with group, time, and group-time interactions considered as fixed effects; and with patients considered as random effects.

Results

A total of 96 patients with OC undergoing chemotherapy were recruited into the study. Distribution was based on a 1:1 ratio, with 48 patients each in the nutrition intervention group and the usual care group. The attrition rate after the first chemotherapy session was 18.75%. The mixed linear model revealed that the group-based effect and the group-time interaction effect on PG-SGA scores were significant (F38,38=4.763, P=.03; F37,37=6.368, P=.01), whereas the time-based effect on PG-SGA scores was not (F38,38=0.377; P=.54). The findings indicated that the group-based effect, the time-based effect, and the group-time interaction effect on nutrition-inflammation composite indices were significant (F38,38=7.653, P=.006; F38,38=13.309, P<.001; F37,37=92.304, P<.001; F37,38=110.675, P<.001; F38,38=10.379, P=.002; and F37,37=5.289, P=.02).

Conclusions

This study provided evidence that a WeChat-based, multidisciplinary, full-course nutritional management program can significantly improve the nutritional status of patients with OC during chemotherapy.

Remote care instruction via the WeChat platform for female patients receiving subcutaneous anticoagulation during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective analysis

Background

The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of remote nursing guidance based on WeChat platform for female patients receiving subcutaneous anticoagulation during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of clinical data, including demographic data and anticoagulation complications, of 126 female patients who received subcutaneous anticoagulation therapy and received remote nursing guidance using WeChat platform in our hospital from January 2022 to December 2022. The Anti-Clot Treatment Scale (ACTS) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) scale were used to evaluate patients' satisfaction with anticoagulation and quality of life at the beginning of anticoagulation, half a month after anticoagulation, and after three months of anticoagulation.

Results

In total, 126 patients were involved in this study, all of them were female, 115 cases were natural pregnancy, 11 cases were assisted reproduction. This study included seven cases of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, 100 cases of hypercoagulable state, 10 cases of antiphospholipid syndrome, and eight cases of protein S deficiency, one case of hyperhomocysteinemia. During the follow-up period, four patients (3.17%) had subcutaneous injection complications, including three cases of subcutaneous hemorrhage and one case of liquid leakage. A total of 123 patients had completed the planned anticoagulation therapy or were receiving anticoagulation therapy as planned, and three patients did not receive anticoagulation therapy as planned (zero cases lost contact, two cases changed treatment units, and one case refused treatment). ACTS score (55.03 ± 1.73) and WHOQOL-BREF score (62.18 ± 3.17) after three months of anticoagulation, ACTS score (54.18 ± 1.20) and WHOQOL-BREF score (60.37 ± 2.25) after half a month of anticoagulation was significantly higher than the ACTS score (47.81 ± 1.69) and WHOQOL-BREF score (55.25 ± 1.85) at the beginning of anticoagulation, and the difference was statistically significant (P value < 0.01).

Conclusions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, remote nursing instruction via the WeChat platform for female patients receiving subcutaneous anticoagulation can increase anticoagulation compliance, satisfaction, and quality of life.

Continuous nursing for infants with congenital talipes equinovarus undergoing Ponseti therapy and telehealth education for their parents via WeChat: a single center retrospective study

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of continuous nursing and telehealth education via WeChat in infants with congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) undergoing Ponseti therapy on reducing complications, care burden, and improving the quality of life for parents.

Methods

This is a single-center retrospective study. From July 2021 to December 2022, 44 CTEV children who undergoing Ponseti treatment in our hospital who received continuous nursing and telehealth education via WeChat (experimental group). In addition, during January 2020 to June 2021, 44 children with CTEV treated with Ponseti in our hospital who received routine nursing and traditional health education were selected as the control group. The incidence of complications, parental care burden and parental quality of life were compared between the two groups.

Results

There was no significant difference in the demographic characteristics of patients and parents between the two groups, and the groups were comparable (p > 0.05). The incidence of complications including plaster loosens, plaster falling off, pressure ulcer was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Parents in the intervention group experienced significantly lower care burdens compared to those in the control group (p < 0.05). The quality of life of parents in the intervention group was significantly higher than that for the control group (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the incidence of complications, the care burden of parents and the quality of life of parents between the two groups.

Conclusion

This study found that continuous nursing and telehealth education via WeChat group during Ponsetis treatment of children with CTEV can effectively reduce complications, reduce the care burden of parents and improve the quality of life of parents. This method is simple and convenient, especially worthy of application and promotion in medically underdeveloped areas.

Transforming and facilitating health care delivery through social networking platforms: evidences and implications from WeChat

Objectives

Telehealth or remote care has been widely leveraged to provide health care support and has achieved tremendous developments and positive results, including in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Social networking platform, as an easy-to-use tool, has provided users with simplified means to collect data outside of the traditional clinical environment. WeChat, one of the most popular social networking platforms in many countries, has been leveraged to conduct telehealth and hosted a vast amount of patient-generated health data (PGHD), including text, voices, images, and videos. Its characteristics of convenience, promptness, and cross-platform support enrich and simplify health care delivery and communication, addressing some weaknesses of traditional clinical care during the pandemic. This study aims to systematically summarize how WeChat platform has been leveraged to facilitate health care delivery and how it improves the access to health care.

Materials and Methods

Utilizing Levesque's health care accessibility model, the study explores WeChat's impact across 5 domains: Approachability, Acceptability, Availability and accommodation, Affordability, and Appropriateness.

Results

The findings highlight WeChat's diverse functionalities, ranging from telehealth consultations and remote patient monitoring to seamless PGHD exchange. WeChat's integration with health tracking apps, support for telehealth consultations, and survey capabilities contribute significantly to disease management during the pandemic.

Discussion and Conclusion

The practices and implications from WeChat may provide experiences to utilize social networking platforms to facilitate health care delivery. The utilization of WeChat PGHD opens avenues for shared decision-making, prompting the need for further research to establish reporting guidelines and policies addressing privacy and ethical concerns associated with social networking platforms in health research.

Application of telemedicine system for older adults postoperative patients in community: a feasibility study

Purpose

In response to the growing challenges posed by an aging society, a telemedicine system was developed specifically for older adults postoperative patients, and its effectiveness was thoroughly investigated.

Methods

Between May 2020 and May 2022, a total of 88 older adults postoperative patients were enrolled and randomly allocated into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received telemedicine services after discharge, while the control group received conventional medical services following the traditional protocol. One month after discharge, various indicators were evaluated for both groups, including number of visits, medical expenditures, postoperative recovery, anxiety, depression and satisfaction.

Results

The number of visits and medical expenditures of the experimental group were less than those of the control group [1 (0, 1) vs. 1 (1, 2), Z = -3.977, p < 0.001; 25.25 (0.00, 277.40) yuan vs. 174.65 (49.63, 446.10) yuan, Z = -2.150, p = 0.032]. In both groups, there were 2 cases of incision infection, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the two groups (Fisher χ2, p = 0.259). In both groups, there was no instance of incision bleeding, incision dehiscence, readmission, or reoperation. Additionally, there was no significant difference in physical status between the two groups at discharge and after discharge (66.06 ± 8.92 vs. 65.45 ± 7.39 t = 0.287, p = 0.775; 73.33 ± 9.97 vs. 70.91 ± 7.50, t = 1.202, p = 0.235). And there was no significant difference in the change of physical status between the two groups after discharge [10.00 (0.00, 10.00) vs. 5.00 (0.00, 10.00), Z = -1.077, p = 0.281]. There was no significant difference in body weight change between the two groups after discharge [1.05 (0.38, 1.60) Kg vs. 0.80 (0.50, 1.43) Kg, Z = -0.265, p = 0.791]. There was no significant difference in the levels of anxiety and depression between the two groups at discharge (45.64 ± 8.10 vs. 44.60 ± 8.24, t = 0.520, p = 0.604, 48.33 ± 8.46 vs. 47.50 ± 6.85, t = 0.418, p = 0.677). But the levels of anxiety and depression in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group after discharge (34.92 ± 7.38 vs. 39.03 ± 8.42, t = -2.183, p = 0.032, 37.86 ± 7.29 vs. 41.93 ± 7.13, t = -2.281, p = 0.025); The change of anxiety level and depression level of the experimental group were more than those of the control group [-10.00 (-11.25, -8.75) vs. -5.00 (-7.81, -3.75), Z = -5.277, p < 0.001; -10.00 (-12.50, -7.50) vs. -5.00 (-7.75, -3.44), Z = -4.596, p < 0.001]. The level of satisfaction regarding medical services, daily care, and psychological comfort was higher in the experimental group compared to the control group [3 (3, 3.25) vs. 2 (1, 2), Z = -5.931, p < 0.001; 3 (3, 4) vs. 3 (2, 3), Z = -2.286, p = 0.022; 2 (1, 3) vs. 1 (0.75, 2), Z = -2.081, p = 0.037].

Conclusion

In the context of an aging society, telemedicine system can offer improved healthcare to older adults postoperative patients. This includes benefits such as reducing number of visits, saving medical expenditures, enhancing psychological comfort and daily care.

Walking exercise through smartphone application plus branched-chain amino acid supplementation benefits skeletal muscle mass and strength in liver cirrhosis: A prospective control trial

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Whether a combination of exercise and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation was more beneficial than those given alone in sarcopenia related to liver cirrhosis (LC) is unknown. Widely used smartphone applications provide continuous and easily expandable management of chronic liver disease (CLD). This study is to investigate the effects of unsupervised walking exercise using WeChat combined with BCAA supplementation on skeletal muscle mass and strength in LC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The 127 LC patients of Child-Pugh A/B were assigned to group A (BCAA supplements, n=42), group B (walking exercise, n=43) and group C (walking exercise plus BCAA supplements, n=42). Laboratory data, average daily steps, serum BCAA, skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and grip strength were analyzed pre- and 3 months after interventions.

RESULTS

Of the 124 patients who completed interventions, albumin and daily steps were significantly increased in all groups (p=0.0001). Post-intervention BCAA were significantly elevated in group A (A vs B, p=0.001) and C (C vs B, p=0.012;). While post-intervention daily steps in group B (B vs A, p=0.0001) and C (C vs A, p=0.0001) were higher. Grip strength (C vs A, p=0.020; C vs B, p=0.036) and SMI (C vs A, p=0.035; C vs B, p=0.012) were increased in group C. Prevalence of sarcopenia was significantly decreased in group C (p=0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

A combination of unsupervised walking exercise using smartphone applications and BCAA supplementation might be an effective and safe treatment for cirrhosis patients with Child-Pugh A/B to improve skeletal muscle mass and strength or to prevent progress of sarcopenia.

Telemedicine in the diagnosis and management of temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions

BACKGROUND

Telemedicine (T-Med) has always been an important tool in the arsenal of clinicians worldwide. This technique has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made it difficult for some people to access traditional dental care. The current review aimed to analyse the usage of telemedicine in the diagnosis and management of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and its impact on general health.

METHODS

An extensive search of databases was conducted using keywords such as, "telemedicine," "teledentistry," "TMJ" and "temporomandibular disorders," resulting in a total of 482 papers to be available from which eligible studies were selected. The Risk of Bias in Observational Studies of Exposures (ROBINS-E) tool was used to evaluate methodological quality of included studies.

RESULTS

Two studies were selected which fulfilled the eligibility criteria. All assessed studies indicated varying degrees of positive outcomes for patients who were intervened for TMDs using T-Med.

CONCLUSION

T-Med shows promising results for the diagnosis and management of TMDs, especially since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and thereafter. Long-term clinical trials with larger samples are needed to further ascertain validity in this regard.

To tweet or not to tweet in otorhinolaryngology, that is the question

OBJECTIVE

To describe the scientific medical literature devoted to the various interactions between otorhinolaryngology (ORL) and social networks.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A literature search, conducted on December 15, 2021, using the search engine of the United States National Library of Medicine (PubMed) and the key-words "otorhinolaryngology", "social network", and "Twitter", retrieved 321 articles for which Abstracts were read for selection of articles with qualitative and quantitative data regarding the various relationships between ORL and social media.

RESULTS

Forty-four articles were selected and analyzed. Thirty-nine originated from the USA and none from France or French-speaking countries. Only 1 article was a prospective randomized study. Schematically, two main types of publication were identified. The first dealt with user interactions, topics discussed, teaching of the ORL specialty and publicizing research. The second dealt with the limits and dangers of this new means of publicizing scientific thinking in our specialty. Reading these articles highlighted the role of social media in publicizing ORL research, and suggested distinct options to improve interactions between otorhinolaryngologists, patients and society as a whole.

CONCLUSION

At a time when society is demanding rapid access to medical research findings, just as it is mandatory to master and adhere to the rules for medical writing in research, it is also now necessary to learn how to communicate via social media and send a tweet if one wishes to publicize its research and/or exchange with patients.

Using WeChat to guide preparation before transthoracic echocardiography reduces anxiety and improves satisfaction of parents of infants with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of using WeChat to guide preparation before transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) on reducing anxiety and improving the satisfaction of parents of infants with congenital heart disease (CHD).

METHODS

This study was a retrospective study conducted in a children's hospital. The clinical data of 44 patients and the anxiety and satisfaction data of their parents who received WeChat guidance were collected between December 2021 and January 2022 (the WeChat group). The corresponding data of 47 patients and their parents who received educational brochure guidance were collected between September 2021 and November 2021 (the routine group). Guidance was used to help the parents prepare for TTE performed by medical professionals. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale and the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18 (PSQ-18) were used. The data of the two groups were compared and analyzed.

RESULTS

The comparison of parental anxiety between the two groups showed that the scores of state anxiety and trait anxiety in the WeChat group were significantly lower than those in the routine group (p < 0.05). The comparison of the results of the PSQ-18 showed that the scores for general satisfaction, interpersonal manner, communication, time spent with the physician, and accessibility and convenience in the WeChat group were significantly higher than those in the routine group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Using WeChat to guide preparation before TTE for infants with CHD can effectively reduce the anxiety of their parents and improve their parents' satisfaction with medical treatment.

Clinical Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Effectiveness in Chinese Patients with Angina Pectoris Using Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes: Protocol for a Multicenter, Prospective, Cohort Study (GREAT)

BACKGROUND

Angina pectoris (AP) is the initial and the most common manifestation of coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore, management and control of AP can help prevent further complications associated with CAD. However, there is under-reporting of angina symptoms in clinical practice, resulting in under-treatment and reduced quality of life (QoL). Prospective and standardized monitoring is needed to support timely and appropriate treatment.

OBJECTIVES

To establish a large cohort of Chinese patients with AP and compare the effectiveness of different anti-angina regimens with the help of electronic patient-reported outcomes (e-PROs), using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) to assess health status.

METHODS

The registry study (GREAT) is a multicenter, prospective, observational, cohort study. Patients diagnosed with AP will be enrolled from 10 hospitals and assessed based on the different anti-anginal regimens. Patients will be followed up every 3 months from baseline to 12 months to observe the difference in the therapeutic effectiveness of the drugs. Data will be collected in the form of e-PROs combined with on-site visit records.

PLANNED OUTCOMES

The change in SAQ summary score (SAQ SS) at Month 12 from baseline will be the primary outcome. The secondary measures will include changes in SAQ SS at Months 3, 6, and 9 from baseline, changes in retest results of vascular stenosis imaging at Month 12 from baseline, and medication adherence based on the proportion of days covered. Safety data will be evaluated based on the incidence of adverse events (AEs).

CONCLUSION

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of anti-anginal regimens using ePROs in real-world settings in China. The results from this study may provide a new perspective on treatment patterns and the effectiveness of different anti-anginal regimens for patients with AP.

STUDY REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05050773.

Feasibility and Cost of Telehealth Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Care: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of telehealth head and neck cancer (HNC) survivorship care.

DATA SOURCES

Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL.

REVIEW METHODS

A systematic search for peer-reviewed feasibility studies on telehealth models for HNC survivorship care published between 2005 and 2021 was conducted using the terms "head and neck cancer" and "telehealth" and their synonyms. Inclusion criteria were studies on telehealth survivorship program interventions for HNC patients with quantitative feasibility outcome measures (eg, enrollment, retention, attrition/dropout rate, adherence/task completion rate, patient satisfaction, cost).

RESULTS

Thirty-eight studies out of 1557 identified met inclusion criteria and were included for analysis. Feasibility outcomes evaluated were enrollment and attrition rates, adherence/task completion rates, patient satisfaction, and user feedback surveys in different survivorship domains. Patient enrollment ranged from 20.8% to 85.7%, while attrition ranged from 7% to 47.7%. Overall, adherence was 30.2% higher in the intervention group than in the control group (46.8% vs 16.6%). Studies with cost analysis found telehealth models of care to be statistically significantly less expensive and more cost-efficient than the standard model of care, with a $642.30 saving per patient (n = 3). Telehealth models also substantially reduced work time saving per visit (on average, 7 days per visit).

CONCLUSION

While telehealth survivorship programs are feasible and cost-effective and are associated with improved patient outcomes, they might not be ideal for every patient. Further investigations are needed to understand the role of telehealth in survivorship care, given the variability in study design, reporting, measures, and methodological quality.

Digital Health Interventions for Adult Patients With Cancer Evaluated in Randomized Controlled Trials: Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Digital care has become an essential component of health care. Interventions for patients with cancer need to be effective and safe, and digital health interventions must adhere to the same requirements.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to identify currently available digital health interventions developed and evaluated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) targeting adult patients with cancer.

METHODS

A scoping review using the JBI methodology was conducted. The participants were adult patients with cancer, and the concept was digital health interventions. The context was open, and sources were limited to RCT effectiveness studies. The PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Library, Research Information Sharing Service, and KoreaMed databases were searched. Data were extracted and analyzed to achieve summarized results about the participants, types, functions, and outcomes of digital health interventions.

RESULTS

A total of 231 studies were reviewed. Digital health interventions were used mostly at home (187/231, 81%), and the web-based intervention was the most frequently used intervention modality (116/231, 50.2%). Interventions consisting of multiple functional components were most frequently identified (69/231, 29.9%), followed by those with the self-manage function (67/231, 29%). Web-based interventions targeting symptoms with the self-manage and multiple functions and web-based interventions to treat cognitive function and fear of cancer recurrence consistently achieved positive outcomes. More studies supported the positive effects of web-based interventions to inform decision-making and knowledge. The effectiveness of digital health interventions targeting anxiety, depression, distress, fatigue, health-related quality of life or quality of life, pain, physical activity, and sleep was subject to their type and function. A relatively small number of digital health interventions specifically targeted older adults (6/231, 2.6%) or patients with advanced or metastatic cancer (22/231, 9.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review summarized digital health interventions developed and evaluated in RCTs involving adult patients with cancer. Systematic reviews of the identified digital interventions are strongly recommended to integrate digital health interventions into clinical practice. The identified gaps in digital health interventions for cancer care need to be reflected in future digital health research.

Recommendations for the Design and Delivery of Transitions-Focused Digital Health Interventions: Rapid Review

Background

Older adults experience a high risk of adverse events during hospital-to-home transitions. Implementation barriers have prevented widespread clinical uptake of the various digital health technologies that aim to support hospital-to-home transitions.

Objective

To guide the development of a digital health intervention to support transitions from hospital to home (the Digital Bridge intervention), the specific objectives of this review were to describe the various roles and functions of health care providers supporting hospital-to-home transitions for older adults, allowing future technologies to be more targeted to support their work; describe the types of digital health interventions used to facilitate the transition from hospital to home for older adults and elucidate how these interventions support the roles and functions of providers; describe the lessons learned from the design and implementation of these interventions; and identify opportunities to improve the fit between technology and provider functions within the Digital Bridge intervention and other transition-focused digital health interventions.

Methods

This 2-phase rapid review involved a selective review of providers’ roles and their functions during hospital-to-home transitions (phase 1) and a structured literature review on digital health interventions used to support older adults’ hospital-to-home transitions (phase 2). During the analysis, the technology functions identified in phase 2 were linked to the provider roles and functions identified in phase 1.

Results

In phase 1, various provider roles were identified that facilitated hospital-to-home transitions, including navigation-specific roles and the roles of nurses and physicians. The key transition functions performed by providers were related to the 3 categories of continuity of care (ie, informational, management, and relational continuity). Phase 2, included articles (n=142) that reported digital health interventions targeting various medical conditions or groups. Most digital health interventions supported management continuity (eg, follow-up, assessment, and monitoring of patients’ status after hospital discharge), whereas informational and relational continuity were the least supported. The lessons learned from the interventions were categorized into technology- and research-related challenges and opportunities and informed several recommendations to guide the design of transition-focused digital health interventions.

Conclusions

This review highlights the need for Digital Bridge and other digital health interventions to align the design and delivery of digital health interventions with provider functions, design and test interventions with older adults, and examine multilevel outcomes.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045596

Application of the WeChat platform in midterm follow-up after surgical repair of ventricular septal defects in infants

BACKGROUND

To explore the feasibility and superiority of applying the WeChat platform in a midterm follow-up of surgical repair for ventricular septal defects in infants.

METHODS

Eighty-six infants with VSD who underwent surgical repair were divided into an outpatient follow-up group and a WeChat follow-up group. The clinical data, including complications, economic cost, time spent, loss to follow-up rate, and parents' satisfaction at the 3-month and 1-year follow-ups, were recorded and analysed.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the incidence of post-operative complications between the two groups. Although the loss to follow-up rate in the WFU group was lower than that of the OFU group, the difference was not statistically significant. The economic cost and time spent in the 3 months and 1 year after discharge in the WFU group were significantly lower than those in the OFU group. One year after discharge, the PSQ-18 score of the WFU group was significantly higher than that of the OFU group.

CONCLUSION

Compared with outpatient follow-up, the WeChat platform at the midterm follow-up after surgical repair of VSDs in infants has the advantages of saving time and economic costs and improves parents' satisfaction.

Factors Related to Smoking and Perceptions of a Behavioral Counseling and Messenger Service-Delivered Smoking Cessation Intervention for People with HIV in China: A Qualitative Study (Preprint)

Background

China, where half of the adult male population smoke tobacco, has one of the highest global burdens of smoking. Smoking rates are even higher among people with HIV. People with HIV can be affected by smoking in multiple ways, including more severe HIV-related symptoms and worse antiretroviral therapy treatment outcomes. However, smoking cessation services targeted for people with HIV are not routinely integrated into HIV care in China. Given the widespread mobile phone ownership, an exploration of factors related to smoking among people with HIV in China who smoke could inform the design and implementation of mobile smoking cessation interventions that target the needs of this vulnerable population.

Objective

This study aims to explore the perspectives of smoking, barriers and facilitators to quitting, and perceptions related to a smoking cessation intervention delivered through behavioral counseling sessions and brief daily messenger service (WeChat)–delivered messages.

Methods

We recruited people with HIV from the People’s 4th Hospital of Nanning, Guangxi, China, and conducted semistructured face-to-face interviews. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim in Chinese, and translated into English for data analysis. We conducted a thematic analysis using a codebook, which was guided by a team-based consensus approach to identify 5 main themes. We also explored themes according to the demographic groups.

Results

A total of 24 participants were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 37.2 (SD=13.5) years. The participants had lived with HIV for a mean of 2.4 years. The majority were male (18/24, 75%) and lived in urban or metropolitan settings (19/24, 79%). We identified five main themes: variable knowledge of the harms of smoking, both related and unrelated to HIV; willpower perceived as the primary quitting strategy; a duality of the effect of social factors on quitting; perceptions about optimal features of the smoking cessation intervention (eg, messages should be brief and most frequent during the first few weeks); and the largely negative impact of their HIV diagnosis on smoking behaviors. In addition, some themes differed according to participant demographic characteristics such as age, sex, and education level.

Conclusions

We identified barriers to and facilitators of smoking cessation among people with HIV in China by conducting semistructured qualitative interviews. Owing to the adverse impact of smoking on HIV outcomes, targeting cessation interventions to the unique needs and preferences of people with HIV in China may be needed to increase the effectiveness of future interventions. A pilot clinical trial will be conducted in the future to evaluate this behavioral counseling and brief daily messenger service (WeChat)–delivered messages approach among people with HIV who smoke in China.

Chinese Cancer Patients' Attitudes Toward Psychotherapy and Their Willingness to Participate in Clinical Trials of Psychotherapy

Introduction

Psychotherapy is considered part of the standard treatment of cancer in Western countries. However, there is no literature on the attitudes of Chinese cancer patients toward psychotherapy.

Methods:

In a multicenter, cross-sectional study in China, a homemade questionnaire was delivered to cancer patients. The targeted population was Chinese hospitalized cancer patients who were informed of their state of illness.

Results

Five hundred and fifty cancer patients received our questionnaire, and 83.3% completed the questionnaire. Among the 458 patients, 43.2% indicated that they had never heard of psychotherapy before the survey. However, after a brief introduction of psychotherapy, most (92.1%) cancer patients indicated that psychotherapy is essential for cancer patients, and over half of patients (57.4%) were willing to take psychotherapy on the advice of the oncologist in charge. Participants aged 45 years or younger, had a family income > 10000 yuan per month, and had an ECOG PS (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status) of 2-4 were more willing to receive psychotherapy. Of all patients, 59.2% and 57.6% were willing to participate in individual and group psychotherapy clinical trials, respectively. Participants who had a bachelor’s degree or higher (odds ratio, OR = 2.09) and were aged 45 years or younger (OR = 1.67) were more willing to participate in individual and group psychotherapy clinical trials, respectively.

Conclusion

The unmet psychological needs of cancer patients in China remain high, and doctors’ advice is likely to positively impact the patients’ acceptance of psychotherapy. Psychological education for Chinese cancer patients should be strengthened. More high-quality clinical trials of psychotherapy should be conducted in China to achieve greater benefits for cancer patients and their families.

Using Telemedicine Strategy to Implementing Nutrition Management for Neonates After Congenital Heart Disease Surgery: A New Nutrition Management Strategy

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of remote nutrition management on promoting the growth and development of neonates after congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 32 neonates after CHD surgery who received remote nutrition management from January 2021 to July 2021 in our hospital. The clinical data of 30 neonates after CHD surgery, who did not receive remote nutrition management from June 2020 to December 2020, was used as control. The growth and development of the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

Three months after discharge, the weight, height, and weight-for-age z score (WAZ) of the intervention group was significantly higher than those of the control group. The amount of milk in the intervention group was also significantly more than that of the control group, and more neonates in the intervention group added high-energy milk or breast milk fortifier than the intervention group. The parental care ability of the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The incidence of respiratory tract infection and readmission in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group.

CONCLUSION

As a new nutrition management strategy for neonates after CHD surgery, remote nutrition management can effectively improve the nutritional status of neonates and promote their growth and development.

Efficacy of Pharmaceutical Care in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

The rates of treatment adherence and treat-to-target rates of blood pressure and blood glucose-related indexes in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are associated with prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of pharmaceutical care postdischarge for treatment adherence in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

This was a randomized controlled trial of patients with combined T2DM and hypertension treated between January and May 2018. Pharmaceutical care included free access to a clinical pharmacist, education material, a WeChat account for live discussion, and a telephone follow-up. The primary endpoint was the 3-month medication adherence. The secondary endpoints included the achieving levels of target rates and values of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2 h postprandial glucose (2hPG), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the rates of reaching the achieving target rate of blood pressure target <130/80.

RESULTS

In 80 participants, the 3-month medication adherence was higher in the pharmaceutical care group than the routine group (90.0% vs. 52.5%, P < 0.001). In terms of FPG, 2hPG, and HbA1c, there were also significant differences between the pharmaceutical care and routine groups (FPG, 6.50 (6.00, 7.18) vs. 7.00 (6.83, 7.78) mmol/L, P=0.004; 2hPG, 8.45 (7.45, 9.28) vs. 9.35 (8.23, 10.15), P=0.007; HbA1c, 6.5% (6.3%, 7.0%) vs. 7.0% (6.5%, 7.4%), P=0.007). The achieving target rate of reaching the blood pressure target in the pharmaceutical care group (92.5%) was significantly higher than that in the routine group (62.5%; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The postdischarge pharmaceutical care program in patients with T2DM and hypertension improves medication adherence.

The use of teledentistry in facilitating oral health for older adults: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Teledentistry is used in many countries to provide oral health care services. However, using teledentistry to provide oral health care services for older adults is not well documented. This knowledge gap needs to be addressed, especially when accessing a dental clinic is not possible and teledentistry might be the only way for many older adults to receive oral health care services.

TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED

Nine databases were searched and 3,396 studies were screened using established eligibility criteria. Included studies were original research or review articles in which the intervention of interest was delivered to an older adult population (≥ 60 years) via teledentistry. The authors followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Review criteria.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies were identified that met the criteria for inclusion. Only 1 study was from the United States. Seven studies had results focusing on older adult participants only, with most of those conducted in elder care facilities. The remainder consisted of studies with mixed-age populations reporting distinct results or information for older adults. The included studies used teledentistry, in both synchronous and asynchronous modes, to provide services such as diagnosis, oral hygiene promotion, assessment and referral of oral emergencies, and postintervention follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Teledentistry comprises a variety of promising apps. The authors identified and described uses, promising possibilities, and limitations of teledentistry to improve the oral health of older adults.

WeChat-assisted health education and preoperative care improve the mental state of parents of children with ventricular septal defect

Many studies have shown that parents of children with congenital heart disease have more stress, anxiety and depression. This study was aimed to explore the effect of implementing WeChat-assisted health education and preoperative care on parents of children with the restrictive ventricular septal defect to improve the psychological state. A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted in a provincial hospital in China. Participants were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group to explore the psychological state of parents of children with the restricted ventricular septal defect. Before surgery, the state-trait anxiety inventory scale score (STAI) of the WeChat group were 26.8 ± 8.2 and 27.3 ± 7.0, which were significantly higher than those of the leaflet group (37.6 ± 12.9 and 39.3 ± 11.7). Compared with the STAI score at the first visit, the WeChat group preoperative score was significantly lower (P < 0.05). The rate of loss to follow-up in the WeChat group (0%) was significantly lower than that of the leaflet group (14.3%). The complication of the leaflet group was significantly higher than that of the WeChat group. Health education and preoperative care for parents of children with restrictive ventricular septal defect through WeChat can effectively improve the parents' mental state and reduce the incidence of complications and the rate of loss to follow-up.

Development features and study characteristics of mobile health apps in the management of chronic conditions: a systematic review of randomised trials

COVID-19 pandemic challenges have accelerated the reliance on digital health fuelling the expanded incorporation of mobile apps into healthcare services, particularly for the management of long-term conditions such as chronic diseases (CDs). However, the impact of health apps on outcomes for CD remains unclear, potentially owing to both the poor adoption of formal development standards in the design process and the methodological quality of studies. A systematic search of randomised trials was performed on Medline, ScienceDirect, the Cochrane Library and Scopus to provide a comprehensive outlook and review the impact of health apps on CD. We identified 69 studies on diabetes (n = 29), cardiovascular diseases (n = 13), chronic respiratory diseases (n = 13), cancer (n = 10) or their combinations (n = 4). The apps rarely adopted developmental factors in the design stage, with only around one-third of studies reporting user or healthcare professional engagement. Apps differed significantly in content, with a median of eight behaviour change techniques adopted, most frequently pertaining to the ‘Feedback and monitoring’ (91%) and ‘Shaping knowledge’ (72%) categories. As for the study methodologies, all studies adopted a traditional randomised control trial (RCT) design, with relatively short follow-ups and limited sample sizes. Findings were not significant for the majority of studies across all CD, with most RCTs revealing a high risk of bias. To support the adoption of apps for CD management, this review reinforces the need for more robust development and appropriate study characteristics to sustain evidence generation and elucidate whether study results reflect the true benefits of apps or a biased estimate due to unsuitable designs.

A 28-Day Challenge to Help Quit Smoking Using Telephone Follow-Ups Combined With the WeChat App: The Impact of the Humanistic Approach on Smoking Cessation

The study aims to assess the effectiveness of telephone follow-ups combined with a smartphone app (e.g., WeChat [Tencent], which is one of the most widely used communication apps in China), as a smoking cessation intervention. Social volunteers were recruited on March 1, 2017, and randomized to supervision groups with five participants in each group. Every day, the specialists shared some information related to smoking cessation including the videos, songs, and scientific knowledge in WeChat groups and conducted telephone follow-ups on the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, 12th, 17th, 22nd, 27th, and 30th day in March and on April 1. Ultimately, a comparison was made of the self-reported smoking abstinence and self-reported average number of cigarettes smoked between the participants. One hundred ten volunteers participated in the study, with 105 who completed follow-up. Self-reported smoking abstinence in the past 7 days occurred in 65.7% of the participants (n = 69) compared with 34.3% (n = 36) in whom smoking abstinence did not occur. The mean age of those who failed was 40.15 years (range: 22–70 years), and 55.5% (n = 20) attributed their failure to personal reasons. However, the self-reported average number of cigarettes smoked every day was less than that before the study (on average, 10.34 ± 8.17 per day), and this difference was statistically significant (95% CI [8.312, 12.364], p < .01). It was effective to deliver a telephone follow-up combined with a smartphone app follow-up as an intervention for smoking cessation.

Social Media and Instant Messaging: An Online Platform for the Treatment of Cleft Lip and Palate Patients; Taipei Medical University Hospital Experience

BACKGROUND

Social media and instant messaging can improve patient education, follow-up, and outcome. The utilization of these modalities in cleft lip/palate care is not fully described. We formed an online platform consisting of a dedicated website, Facebook group and LINE group through which we provide information and counseling to our patient population. Our objective is to evaluate the impact and patient satisfaction of our online platform.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we designed a questionnaire aimed at evaluating the quality of information and patient satisfaction of the online platform. The questionnaire was distributed online to 732 cases connected to us through the LINE application.

RESULTS

The response rate was 26%. Website information was found very necessary and sufficient by 75% and 46% of the cases, respectively. Regarding Facebook, the medical team's response was found very professional and practical by 81% and 68% of the cases, respectively. Patient-patient interaction was helpful to 96% of the cases. Regarding the LINE application, the medical team's response was found very immediate and helpful in 73% of the cases, and 91% felt that LINE saved them time from returning to the clinic on unscheduled occasions. The website, Facebook and LINE were used over 10 times per month by 17%, 32%, and 50% of the cases, respectively. A decrease in unscheduled "pop-up" visits to the clinic (from 25 to 6 per month) was registered.

CONCLUSIONS

Adapting social media and instant messaging into our cleft lip/palate care has been welcomed with high satisfaction among our patient population, increasing their knowledge, saving them time from returning to the clinic, and allowing them beneficial interaction with other families coping with similar conditions.

Lifestyle and Empowerment Techniques in Survivorship of Gynaecologic Oncology (LETSGO study): a study protocol for a multicentre longitudinal interventional study using mobile health technology and biobanking

INTRODUCTION

The number of gynaecological cancer survivors is increasing and there is a need for a more sustainable model of follow-up care. Today's follow-up model is time-consuming and patients have reported unmet needs regarding information about their cancer and strategies for managing the consequences of treatment. The main aim of this study is to assess health-related empowerment-in terms of patient education, psychosocial support, and promotion of physical activity-in a new follow-up model by comparing it to standard follow-up in a quasi-randomised study involving intervention hospitals and control hospitals.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

At the intervention hospitals, patients will be stratified by risk of recurrence and late effects to either 1 or 3 years' follow-up. Nurses will replace doctors in half of the follow-up visits and focus in particular on patient education, self-management and physical activity. They will provide patients with information and guide them in goal setting and action planning. These measures will be reinforced by a smartphone application for monitoring symptoms and promoting physical activity. At the control hospitals, patients will be included in the standard follow-up programme. All patients will be asked to complete questionnaires at baseline and after 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. Blood samples will be collected for biobanking at 3, 12 and 36 months. The primary outcome is health-related empowerment. Secondary outcomes include health-related quality of life, adherence to physical activity recommendations, time to recurrence, healthcare costs and changes in biomarkers. Changes in these outcomes will be analysed using generalised linear mixed models for repeated measures. Type of hospital (intervention or control), time (measurement point), and possible confounders will be included as fixed factors.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study is approved by the Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics (2019/11093). Dissemination of findings will occur at the local, national and international levels.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04122235.

Risk factors associated with loss to follow-up of breast cancer patients: A retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

Loss to follow-up (LTFU) during post-operative surveillance of breast cancer patients is detrimental. The pattern of LTFU and its risk factors in Chinese breast cancer patients remains unknown.

METHOD

Eligible non-metastatic breast cancer patients who underwent surgery at our institution between 2009 and 2012 were included. The clinicopathological features, as well as the LTFU status, were retrieved from the REDCap database. LTFU was defined as the absence of patients for at least 12 months since her last contact. 5-year LTFU was defined as the LTFU status of each patients at 5 years after surgery. The incidence and potential risk factors of LTFU were analyzed. A LTFU-risk score was developed to quantify the risk of LTFU.

RESULTS

A total of 1536 patients with breast cancer were included, and 411(26.8%) patients were 5-year LTFU. 198 patients were LTFU in the first year. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that age (younger and older), a lack of medical insurance, longer distance from residence to the hospital, pathology (DCIS/Paget's/Phyllodes), lymph node metastasis, the absence of endocrine therapy and fewer than five contact numbers were significantly and independently associated with the risk of LTFU. A LTFU-risk score was developed and was predictive of LTFU.

CONCLUSIONS

A series of risk factors were significantly associated with post-operative LTFU of breast cancer patients. Patients with different risks of LTFU could possibly be identified, and surveillance plans could be individualized for different patients, so as to effectively reduce the overall LTFU rate, and optimize the allocation of medical resources.

Is Tele-Dentistry an Effective Approach for Patient Follow-up in Maxillofacial Surgery

PURPOSE

To explore the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of the tele-dentistry for the follow-up of different diagnostic groups of Turkish patients in maxillofacial surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, follow-up patients were allocated to four groups as dental implant, minor surgical procedure, infection-medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). In all groups, remote examination via video call and subsequently face-to-face clinic examination were performed. The quality and accuracy of the video call were scored by the same investigator. Also, patient satisfaction regarding the video call was evaluated with a questionnaire.

RESULTS

Twenty-one patients (12 females, 9 males) between 18 and 71 years (38.90 ± 17.88) participated in the study. A strong preference of 71% and 95% toward video call by patients was seen in the questionnaires performed after video call and face-to-face examination, respectively. Regarding the rating of the clinician, no significant differences were found between groups in terms of the quality and accuracy of video call (p ≥ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Remote follow up of diagnostic groups which can benefit from tele-dentistry pose a promising remedy that is reliable as in-person visits and also can reduce the clinical visits in routine clinical practice.

Telemedicine usage via WeChat for children with congenital heart disease preoperatively during COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective analysis

Objective

During the COVID-19 pandemic, parents of infants having medical problem face challenges of insufficient medical resources at home. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of WeChat-based telehealth services on the preoperative follow-up of infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 190 infants with CHD who underwent remote follow-up via WeChat from December 2019 to May 2020 in Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. In addition, the psychological benefits of WeChat on the parents of these infants were analyzed.

Results

In total, 190 infants were involved in this study, including 72 cases of ventricular septal defects, 42 cases of patent ductus arteriosus, 55 cases of atrial septal defects, 3 cases of tetralogy of Fallot, 2 cases of endocardial cushion defects, 12 cases of pulmonary stenosis, 2 cases of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection and 2 cases of aortic arch constriction. During the follow-up period, 48 infants who received surgical indications were hospitalized in time for surgical treatment. It was recommended that 10 infants with respiratory tract infections be treated in local hospitals through the WeChat platform. We provided feeding guidance to 28 infants with dysplasia through the WeChat platform. The psychological evaluation results of parents showed that the median score and range of Self-Rating Depression Scale scores were 42 and 32–58, respectively. Nine parents (4.7%) were clinically depressed, while the majority had mild depression. The median score and range of Self-Rating Anxiety Scale scores were 44 and 31–59, respectively. Twenty parents (10.5%) had clinical anxiety, while the rest had mild anxiety.

Conclusion

During the COVID-19 pandemic, follow-up management and health services for infants with CHD prior to surgery through the WeChat platform were useful in identifying the state of an infant’s condition as well as in identifying and relieving care pressure, anxiety and depression in the parents.

Effectiveness of the WeChat-based smoking cessation intervention ('WeChat WeQuit' program) in China: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Since its first release in 2011, WeChat (Chinese pinyin: Wei Xin) has been widely used to promote health. As the most popular all-in-one social media application providing free instant messaging, voice, text, pictures, videos and location information exchange via smartphone, WeChat holds promise for delivering smoking cessation services to a large number of people at low unit cost in China, a country with more than 300 million smokers. This protocol is for a study that aims to assess the efficacy of a WeChat-based smoking cessation intervention ('WeChat WeQuit') for treatment-seeking smokers in China.

DESIGN

In this two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT), the control group will receive only a digital version of a booklet of 'Happy Quit'. The intervention group will also receive the 2 weeks pre- and 12 weeks post-quit 'WeChat WeQuit' intervention. Both groups will be followed-up to 26 weeks (6 months) after quit day.

SETTING

This on-line trial has no restrictions on setting or location.

PARTICIPANTS

Chinese-speaking current smokers (have smoked ≥100 cigarettes in their life-time and currently smoke cigarettes) aged 18+ years willing to make a quit attempt within 1 month (n = 2000) will be recruited by on- and off-line advertising. Potential participants will register their interest by sending WeChat messages or text messages, or making a voice call.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome measure is self-reported 26-week continuous smoking abstinence with biological verification [test by clinic visit: expired carbon monoxide concentration <10 parts per million (p.p.m.) or by mailing cotinine urine dipsticks: urine cotinine <200 ng/ml]. Secondary outcome measures include: 7-day point prevalence abstinence at weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 26 after-quit day; self-reported 12-week continuous smoking abstinence and 26-week continuous smoking abstinence; reductions in number of cigarettes smoked per day; and rates of participation in and completion of the smoking-cessation program.

CONCLUSIONS

If the 'WeChat WeQuit' program is found to be effective, it will be an accessible, affordable and widely implementable intervention to help cigarette smokers to quit. The potential public health impact of its expansion into underserved regions or communities is considerable.

A systematic review of outcomes of remote consultation in ENT

AIMS

Remote or tele-consultation has become an emerging modality of consultation in many specialities, including ENT. Advantages include increasing accessibility, potential to reduce costs and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, reduced risk of infection transmission. Here, we systematically collate and synthesise the evidence base on outcomes from remote consultation in adult and paediatric ENT services.

METHODS

We performed a review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. We searched Medline and Embase for relevant articles. Outcomes include specific patient pathway efficiency measures (including number of healthcare visits, lead time, touch time and handoff), patient/clinician satisfaction, cost analysis and safety implications.

RESULTS

From 6325 articles screened, 53 met inclusion criteria. Publications included studies on remote consultation for initial, preoperative and follow-up assessment (including postoperative). In most instances, remote consultation reduced costs and time from referral to assessment and was associated with high patient satisfaction. However, a face-to-face follow-up appointment was required in 13%-72% of initial consultations, suggesting that remote consultation is only appropriate in selected cases.

CONCLUSION

Remote consultation is appropriate and preferable for ENT consultation in specific conditions and circumstances. Future research should look to better define those conditions and circumstances, and report using recognised quality standards and outcome measures.

A Social Media-Promoted Educational Community of Joint Replacement Patients Using the WeChat App: Survey Study

Background

Much effort has been made to optimize the results of total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty. With the rapid growth of social media use, mobile apps, such as WeChat, have been considered for improving outcomes and patient satisfaction after total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty.

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a WeChat-based community as an intervention for overall patient satisfaction.

Methods

The study was conducted among discharged in-hospital patients who received hip or knee procedures in the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China from April 2019 to January 2020. An educational online social community was constructed with the WeChat app. Participants willing to join the community were enrolled in a WeChat group and received 3 months of intervention and follow-up. Those who were not willing to use the account were included in a control group and received routine publicity via telephone, mail, and brochures. The Danish Health and Medicine Authority patient satisfaction questionnaire was used to score perioperative patient education and overall satisfaction. The contents in the group chat were analyzed using natural language processing tools.

Results

A total of 3428 patients were enrolled in the study, including 2292 in the WeChat group and 1236 in the control group. Participants in the WeChat group had higher overall satisfaction scores than those in the control group (mean 8.48, SD 1.12 vs mean 6.66, SD 1.80, P<.001). The difference between the two groups was significant for primary surgery based on subgroup stratification. To control confounding factors and explore the effects of WeChat participation as a mediating variable between perioperative patient education and overall satisfaction, hierarchical regression was utilized. An interpatient interaction model was found in the community group chat, and it contributed to overall satisfaction. Patients in the group with more interpatient interactions were more likely to have better overall satisfaction.

Conclusions

The social media–promoted educational community using WeChat was effective among joint replacement patients. Provision of more perioperative education is associated with more active patient participation in the community and therefore more patient satisfaction in terms of the overall joint procedure. Community group chat could facilitate interactions among patients and contribute to overall satisfaction.

WeChat as a Platform for Baduanjin Intervention in Patients With Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in China: Retrospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a crucial part of the nonpharmacological treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but management remains problematic. WeChat could serve as a useful tool in patient management. Baduanjin is a popular exercise in China that is usually applied in pulmonary rehabilitation, which has been confirmed to be effective in improving lung function and life quality.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the efficiency of WeChat in the management of Baduanjin exercise in COPD patients.

Methods

A total of 200 patients from the respiratory department of Putuo Hospital participated in the Baduanjin rehabilitation project from September 2018 to October 2019, and were randomly assigned to the WeChat and control groups and followed up using the WeChat platform or telephone for 12 weeks. The frequency of Baduanjin exercise, lung function (percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second predicted, FEV1% predicted), and COPD assessment test (CAT) scores were collected and compared between the two groups. The number of message exchanges and a satisfaction survey on the WeChat platform were used to assess the feasibility of WeChat management outside the hospital.

Results

The Baduanjin exercise frequency significantly differed between the control group and WeChat group (F=33.82, P<.001) and across various time points (F=214.87, P<.001). After the follow-up on WeChat, there were fewer patients not performing Baduanjin exercise. The FEV1% predicted value significantly differed before and after Baduanjin exercise in the control group (Z=−3.686, P<.001) and the WeChat group (Z=−6.985, P<.001). A significant difference in the FEV1% predicted value was observed after Baduanjin exercise between the two groups (Z=−3.679, P<.001). The CAT score significantly differed before and after Baduanjin exercise in the control group (Z=−4.937, P<.001) and the WeChat group (Z=−5.246, P<.001). A significant difference in the CAT score was observed after Baduanjin exercise between the two groups (Z=−5.246, P<.001). The number of completed Baduanjin exercises, lung function, and CAT scores in active patients were higher than those in nonactive patients. All satisfaction survey items were scored with more than 4 points. Among the items, the highest score (mean 4.54, SD 0.77) was for continued WeChat management, followed by the effective management of Baduanjin exercise (mean 4.46, SD 0.87). The patients in the WeChat group showed much higher enthusiasm for and compliance with Baduanjin exercise, resulting in better life quality and lung function. The patients were very satisfied with the WeChat management because of the obvious curative effect and home feeling.

Conclusions

The WeChat platform provided a feasible, effective, and sustainable management plan for Baduanjin rehabilitation.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900028248; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=46995

Activity in nature mediates a park prescription intervention's effects on physical activity, park use and quality of life: a mixed-methods process evaluation

Background

This process evaluation explored the implementation and mechanisms of impact of a Park Prescription Intervention trial (PPI), including the effects of hypothesised mediators (motivation, social support, recreational physical activity [PA], park use and park PA) on trial outcomes.

Methods

Participants from the community were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 80) or control (n = 80) group. The intervention included baseline counselling, a prescription of exercise in parks, materials, three-month follow-up counselling and 26 weekly group exercise sessions in parks. Process evaluation indicators were assessed at three- and six-months. Implementation indicators included participation rates in intervention components and survey questions plus focus group discussions (FGDs) to understand which components participants valued. FGDs further assessed barriers and facilitators to intervention participation. To explore mechanisms of impact, linear regression was used to compare objectively measured PA between quantiles of group exercise participation. Structural equation modelling (SEM) explored hypothesised mediation of the significant intervention effects. Framework analysis was conducted for FGDs.

Results

Participants were middle-aged (mean 51, SD ± 6.3 years), predominantly female (79%) and of Chinese ethnicity (81%). All intervention participants received baseline counselling, the park prescription and materials, whilst 94% received the follow-up counselling. Mean minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA/week (95% CI) differed by group exercise participation (p = 0.018): 0% participation (n = 18) 128.3 (69.3, 187.2) minutes, > 0–35.9% participation (n = 18) 100.3 (36.9, 163.6) minutes, > 35.9–67.9% participation (n = 17) 50.5 (− 4.9, 105.9) minutes and > 67.9% participation (n = 18) 177.4 (122.0, 232.8) minutes. Park PA at three-months had significant mediating effects (95% CI) on recreational PA 26.50 (6.65, 49.37) minutes/week, park use 185.38 (45.40, 353.74) minutes/month, park PA/month 165.48 (33.14, 334.16) minutes and psychological quality of life score 1.25 (0.19, 2.69) at six-months. Prioritising time with family and preferences for unstructured activities were barriers to intervention participation. Human interaction via follow-up or group exercise were facilitators.

Conclusion

This process evaluation showed park PA consistently mediated effects of the PPI, suggesting activity in parks was a mechanism of its effects. To optimise effectiveness, participants’ preference for prioritising time with family through family involvement and tailoring the intervention to participants’ preferences for structured or unstructured PA could be considered in future studies.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02615392, 26 November 2015.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-10177-1.

Digitalized healthcare for head and neck cancer patients

The ongoing shortage in healthcare services and the increasing cancer incidence, highlight the need for new strategies to ensure optimal treatments, cares and follow-up for all patients. Digitalized healthcare, which includes various concepts (digital health, telemedicine, telemonitoring and digital therapeutics), are a promising option to meet these needs. In this scoping review, we provide an overview of the recent available research evidence on digitalized healthcare for HNC patients and caregivers. Through the interrogation of PubMed and Cochrane Library databases, a total of 32 relevant articles reporting the use of digitalized healthcare in different settings of HNC patients' care management, were analyzed. Overall, HNC patients as well as caregivers were highly satisfied, especially because digitalized healthcare allows the early detection of health disorders, improve patient's management, quality of life, self-confidence and communication. Furthermore, digitalized healthcare were significantly time- and cost-effective. While the benefits digitalized healthcare has been reported to be feasible and clinically relevant, our future efforts should focus on the demonstration of their clinical utility in well-designed clinical trials. It is tempting to anticipate that this approach will improve patients' management and quality of life and change the way patients interact with family and professional health care givers.

Skin disorder management in oral anticancer drugs by collaboration of hospital pharmacists and community pharmacists

Background

In Japan, the multidisciplinary team approach in cancer chemotherapy has become quite widespread. However, patients treated with oral anticancer drugs in outpatient clinics usually receive short medical examinations from doctors without any intervention of pharmacists. To improve this medical circumstance, we made a skin disorder manual for community pharmacists and evaluated its feasibility.

Methods

Patients who underwent oral skin toxic chemotherapy from May 1, 2017, to October 31, 2017, were enrolled. The severity of skin toxicities was evaluated based on NCI-CTCAE ver4.0. Skin care and skin disorders were assessed by community pharmacists based on the assessment document arranged by the investigator. Numbers of patients who replied to the assessment, numbers of replies, numbers of assessments and instructions for skin care, and numbers of prescription proposals were evaluated to assess the value of intervention of community pharmacists.

Results

Sixty-two patients were enrolled in this study. Community pharmacy responded to 55 patients (88.7%), for a total of 335 replies. The data described in the replies were as follows: 317 assessments of skin disorders (94.6%), 307 assessments of skin care (91.6%), 248 instructions for skin care (74%), and 19 prescription proposals (5.7%).

Conclusions

Community pharmacists have high motivation for prevention and early detection of skin disorders. Although the number of prescription proposals is small, some proposals have contributed to improving side effects. Collaboration of hospital pharmacists and community pharmacists is important for prevention, early detection, and treatment of skin disorders caused by oral anticancer drugs.

The value of WeChat application in chronic diseases management in China

The prevalence of chronic diseases in China has increased rapidly in recent decades. Although the management rate of chronic diseases has improved, there is still no unified and effective management measure for chronic diseases at present. This highlights the importance of effectively managing chronic diseases. With the development of e-health, the ways of getting medical consultation have changed. WeChat is an extremely popular social application in China. It is easy to operate and can offer multiple functions. Many researches have reported the effectiveness of WeChat in chronic diseases management. Based on the status of WeChat application in chronic diseases management and the characteristics of WeChat technology, we firstly focused on the WeChat application on the management of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer. Then we discussed the value of WeChat in chronic diseases management and analyzed the potential reasons. Lastly, we discussed the limitations of present researches. WeChat can be an effective tool for the management of chronic diseases, but the promotion of this mode needs support and efforts from various aspects to eventually realize improving public health.

Application of WeChat-assisted peri-operative care in children with congenital megacolon

AIM

This study explored the clinical effects of WeChat-based peri-operative care on parents of children with congenital megacolon.

METHODS

Participants were randomly divided into WeChat group and telephone group. This study explored parents' knowledge of the care of children with megacolon, the follow-up rate of children, post-operative defaecation function and complications.

RESULTS

WeChat group scored better in nursing knowledge than telephone group, and the difference was statistically significant. The lost follow-up rate in WeChat group was lower than that in telephone group, and the difference was statistically significant. Post-operative defaecation was also better in the WeChat group than in the phone group. Most complications in the phone group were significantly higher than those in the WeChat group.

CONCLUSION

Peri-operative care for parents of children with megacolon through WeChat can effectively enhance the level of parental care knowledge, improve defaecation, reduce the occurrence of certain complications and reduce lost follow-up.

Effect of using the WeChat platform on the perioperative health education of parents of children who underwent transthoracic device closure of VSDs

Objective

To explore the effects of using the WeChat platform on the perioperative health education of parents of children who underwent transthoracic device closure of ventricular septal defects (VSDs).

Methods

Participants were divided into a WeChat group and a leaflet group. Responses to relevant questionnaires and clinical data were recorded and analyzed.

Results

Before the operation, the scores of the Caretaker Knowledge Questionnaire in the WeChat group were significantly higher than those in the leaflet group. The scores of PSQ-18 in the WeChat group were significantly higher than those in the leaflet group. All the children in the WeChat group were followed up 1 month after discharge, while four children in the leaflet group were lost to follow-up. The rate of attrition in the leaflet group was significantly higher than that in the WeChat group. For the postoperative complications, there was no significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusion

Perioperative health education for parents of children who undergo transthoracic device closure of VSDs through the WeChat platform can effectively enhance parents’ knowledge of care, improve parent satisfaction, which is an effective method to ensure convenient operation and reduce loss to follow-up.

Assessing a WeChat-Based Integrative Family Intervention (WIFI) for Schizophrenia: Protocol for a Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia is a persistent and debilitating mental illness, and its prognosis depends largely on supportive care and systematic treatment. In developing countries like China, families constitute the major caregiving force for schizophrenia and are faced with many challenges, such as lack of knowledge, skills, and resources. The approach to support family caregiving in an accessible, affordable, feasible, and cost-effective way remains unclear. The wide-spread use of WeChat provides a promising and cost-effective medium for support.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to present a protocol for assessing a WeChat-based integrative family intervention (WIFI) to support family caregiving for schizophrenia.

METHODS

We will develop a WIFI program that includes the following three core components: (1) psychoeducation (WeChat official account), (2) peer support (WeChat chat group), and (3) professional support (WeChat video chat). A rigorous stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial will be used to evaluate the implementation, effectiveness, and cost of the WIFI program. The WIFI program will be implemented in 12 communities affiliated with Changsha Psychiatric Hospital through the free medicine delivery process in the 686 Program. The 12 communities will be randomized to one of four fixed sequences every 2 months during an 8-month intervention period in four clusters of three communities each. Outcomes will be assessed for both family caregivers and people with schizophrenia. Family caregivers will be assessed for their knowledge and skills about caregiving, social support, coping, perceived stigma, caregiver burden, family functioning, positive feelings, and psychological distress. People with schizophrenia will be assessed for their symptoms, functioning, quality of life, recovery, and rehospitalization. Cost data, such as intervention costs, health care utilization costs, and costs associated with lost productivity, will be collected. Moreover, we will collect process data, including fidelity and quality of program implementation, as well as user attitude data. Treatment effects will be estimated using generalized linear maximum likelihood mixed modeling with clusters as a random effect and time as a fixed effect. Cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed from the societal perspective using incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Qualitative analysis will use the grounded theory approach and immersion-crystallization process.

RESULTS

The study was funded in August 2018 and approved by the institutional review board on January 15, 2019. Preliminary baseline data collection was conducted in May 2019 and completed in September 2019. The WIFI program is expected to start in September 2020.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to assess a WeChat-based mHealth intervention to support family caregiving for schizophrenia in China. The innovative study will contribute to the development of a more cost-effective and evidence-based family management model in the community for people with schizophrenia, and the approach could potentially be integrated into national policy and adapted for use in other populations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04393896; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04393896.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/18538.

Comparative efficacy of social media delivered health education on glycemic control: A meta-analysis

Objective

To compare outcomes associated with patient education about glycemic control via group chat versus patient education as usual among individuals with diabetes in China.

Methods

We searched the following databases both in English and in Chinese languages: PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang database, VIP database, and CBM for articles published up to Jan 1, 2018. The studies were screened by two independent reviewers. Using criteria from the risk of bias assessment tool developed by Cochrane Collaboration to assess the risk of bias of eligible studies. A meta-analysis of studies was performed using comprehensive meta-analysis version 3.0.

Results

Twenty-five unique randomized clinical trials, including 2,838 patients, were identified. The education delivered via group chat had large overall pooled effect sizes in improving glucose control measured by hemoglobin A1c [Hedges’ g = −0.81, 95% CI: (−0.98, −0.64)], fasting blood glucose [Hedges’ g = −1.11, 95% CI: (−1.37, −0.85)], and 2 h postprandial blood glucose [Hedges’ g = −0.98, 95% CI: (−1.20, −0.76)]. Additionally, patient education delivered via group chat has shown consistently superior outcomes in glucose control in short-term (0–3 months), mid-term (3–6 months) and longer-term (6–12 months).

Conclusions

Educational interventions via group chat had a superior outcome in blood glucose control compared to education as usual in China. Educational interventions via group chat had superior short-term, mid-term, and longer-term outcomes in blood glucose control compared to education as usual in China.

A Mobile Health App for the Collection of Functional Outcomes After Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Monitoring the functional status of poststroke patients after they transition home is significant for rehabilitation. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies may provide an opportunity to reach and follow patients post discharge. However, the feasibility and validity of functional assessments administered by mHealth technologies are unknown.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, validity, and reliability of functional assessments administered through the videoconference function of a mobile phone-based app compared with administration through the telephone function in poststroke patients after rehabilitation hospitalization.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a rehabilitation hospital in Southeast China. Participants were randomly assigned to either a videoconference follow-up (n=60) or a telephone follow-up (n=60) group. We measured the functional status of participants in each group at 2-week and 3-month follow-up periods. Half the participants in each group were followed by face-to-face home visit assessments as the gold standard. Validity was assessed by comparing any score differences between videoconference follow-up and home visit assessments, as well as telephone follow-up and home visit assessments. Reliability was assessed by computing agreements between videoconference follow-up and home visit assessments, as well as telephone follow-up and home visit assessments. Feasibility was evaluated by the levels of completion, satisfaction, comfort, and confidence in the 2 groups.

RESULTS

Scores obtained from the videoconference follow-up were similar to those of the home visit assessment. However, most scores collected from telephone administration were higher than those of the home visit assessment. The agreement between videoconference follow-up and home visit assessments was higher than that between telephone follow-up and home visit assessments at all follow-up periods. In the telephone follow-up group, completion rates were 95% and 82% at 2-week and 3-month follow-up points, respectively. In the videoconference follow-up group, completion rates were 95% and 80% at 2-week and 3-month follow-up points, respectively. There were no differences in the completion rates between the 2 groups at all follow-up periods (X²₁=1.6, P=.21 for 2-week follow-up; X²₁=1.9, P=.17 for 3-month follow-up). Patients in the videoconference follow-up group perceived higher confidence than those in the telephone follow-up group at both 2-week and 3-month follow-up periods (X²₃=6.7, P=.04 for 2-week follow-up; X²₃=8.0, P=.04 for 3-month follow-up). The videoconference follow-up group demonstrated higher satisfaction than the telephone follow-up group at 3-month follow-up (X²₃=13.9; P=.03).

CONCLUSIONS

The videoconference follow-up assessment of functional status demonstrates higher validity and reliability, as well as higher confidence and satisfaction perceived by patients, than the telephone assessment. The videoconference assessment provides an efficient means of assessing functional outcomes of patients after hospital discharge. This method provides a novel solution for clinical trials requiring longitudinal assessments.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR1900027626; http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=44831&htm=4.

Big Data From Small Devices: The Future of Smartphones in Oncology

Technological advancements in the capabilities of modern smartphones offer tremendous potential to generate big data from small devices that could influence oncologists' decision-making. Here we describe the value of patient-generated health data (PGHD) that can be captured using mobile devices. We comment on the current use of smartphones in oncology clinical research and describe how smartphones will bring big data into the oncology clinic by enabling continuous patient monitoring, information sharing, and personalized clinical decision making in cancer care. Lastly, we describe practical considerations about how we can access and store PGHD in the future, describing how to harness the clinical value of PGHD and comment on the emerging applications for digital biomarkers captured by smartphones.

New warfarin anticoagulation management model after heart valve surgery: rationale and design of a prospective, multicentre, randomised trial to compare an internet-based warfarin anticoagulation management model with the traditional warfarin management model

INTRODUCTION

Warfarin is an effective anticoagulant and the only oral anticoagulant available for patients with mechanical heart valves. The prothrombin time and the associated international normalised ratio (INR) are routinely tested to monitor the response to anticoagulation therapy in patients. Patients who undergo mechanical heart valve replacement need lifelong anticoagulation therapy, and their INR is regularly measured to adjust the anticoagulation strength and the dose of anticoagulation drugs. Appropriate warfarin anticoagulation management can reduce patient complications, such as bleeding and thrombosis, and improve the long-term survival rate. We propose modern internet technology as a platform to build a warfarin anticoagulation follow-up system after valve replacement surgery. This system will provide doctors and patients with more standardised and safer follow-up methods as well as a method to further reduce the risk of warfarin anticoagulation-related complications and improve its therapeutic effects.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A prospective, multicentre, randomised, controlled trial will be conducted. A total of 700 patients who require long-term warfarin anticoagulation monitoring after heart valve replacement will be enrolled and randomly divided at a 1:1 ratio into a traditional outpatient anticoagulation management group and a group undergoing a new method of management based on the internet technology with follow-up for 1 year. Differences in the percentage of time in the therapeutic range (TTR), drug dose adjustments, bleeding/thrombosis and other related complications will be observed. The primary endpoint is the difference in the TTR between the two groups. The purpose of this study is to explore a safer and more effective mode of doctor-patient interaction and communication in the internet era. As of 13 July 2019, 534 patients had been enrolled.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR1800016204.

Follow-up strategies following completion of primary cancer treatment in adult cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

Most cancer survivors receive follow-up care after completion of treatment with the primary aim of detecting recurrence. Traditional follow-up consisting of fixed visits to a cancer specialist for examinations and tests are expensive and may be burdensome for the patient. Follow-up strategies involving non-specialist care providers, different intensity of procedures, or addition of survivorship care packages have been developed and tested, however their effectiveness remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this review is to compare the effect of different follow-up strategies in adult cancer survivors, following completion of primary cancer treatment, on the primary outcomes of overall survival and time to detection of recurrence. Secondary outcomes are health-related quality of life, anxiety (including fear of recurrence), depression and cost.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, four other databases and two trials registries on 11 December 2018 together with reference checking, citation searching and contact with study authors to identify additional studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included all randomised trials comparing different follow-up strategies for adult cancer survivors following completion of curatively-intended primary cancer treatment, which included at least one of the outcomes listed above. We compared the effectiveness of: 1) non-specialist-led follow-up (i.e. general practitioner (GP)-led, nurse-led, patient-initiated or shared care) versus specialist-led follow-up; 2) less intensive versus more intensive follow-up (based on clinical visits, examinations and diagnostic procedures) and 3) follow-up integrating additional care components relevant for detection of recurrence (e.g. patient symptom education or monitoring, or survivorship care plans) versus usual care.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used the standard methodological guidelines by Cochrane and Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC). We assessed the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. For each comparison, we present synthesised findings for overall survival and time to detection of recurrence as hazard ratios (HR) and for health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression as mean differences (MD), with 95% confidence intervals (CI). When meta-analysis was not possible, we reported the results from individual studies. For survival and recurrence, we used meta-regression analysis where possible to investigate whether the effects varied with regards to cancer site, publication year and study quality.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 53 trials involving 20,832 participants across 12 cancer sites and 15 countries, mainly in Europe, North America and Australia. All the studies were carried out in either a hospital or general practice setting. Seventeen studies compared non-specialist-led follow-up with specialist-led follow-up, 24 studies compared intensity of follow-up and 12 studies compared patient symptom education or monitoring, or survivorship care plans with usual care. Risk of bias was generally low or unclear in most of the studies, with a higher risk of bias in the smaller trials. Non-specialist-led follow-up compared with specialist-led follow-up It is uncertain how this strategy affects overall survival (HR 1.21, 95% CI 0.68 to 2.15; 2 studies; 603 participants), time to detection of recurrence (4 studies, 1691 participants) or cost (8 studies, 1756 participants) because the certainty of the evidence is very low. Non-specialist- versus specialist-led follow up may make little or no difference to health-related quality of life at 12 months (MD 1.06, 95% CI -1.83 to 3.95; 4 studies; 605 participants; low-certainty evidence); and probably makes little or no difference to anxiety at 12 months (MD -0.03, 95% CI -0.73 to 0.67; 5 studies; 1266 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). We are more certain that it has little or no effect on depression at 12 months (MD 0.03, 95% CI -0.35 to 0.42; 5 studies; 1266 participants; high-certainty evidence). Less intensive follow-up compared with more intensive follow-up Less intensive versus more intensive follow-up may make little or no difference to overall survival (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.14; 13 studies; 10,726 participants; low-certainty evidence) and probably increases time to detection of recurrence (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.92; 12 studies; 11,276 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Meta-regression analysis showed little or no difference in the intervention effects by cancer site, publication year or study quality. It is uncertain whether this strategy has an effect on health-related quality of life (3 studies, 2742 participants), anxiety (1 study, 180 participants) or cost (6 studies, 1412 participants) because the certainty of evidence is very low. None of the studies reported on depression. Follow-up strategies integrating additional patient symptom education or monitoring, or survivorship care plans compared with usual care: None of the studies reported on overall survival or time to detection of recurrence. It is uncertain whether this strategy makes a difference to health-related quality of life (12 studies, 2846 participants), anxiety (1 study, 470 participants), depression (8 studies, 2351 participants) or cost (1 studies, 408 participants), as the certainty of evidence is very low.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Evidence regarding the effectiveness of the different follow-up strategies varies substantially. Less intensive follow-up may make little or no difference to overall survival but probably delays detection of recurrence. However, as we did not analyse the two outcomes together, we cannot make direct conclusions about the effect of interventions on survival after detection of recurrence. The effects of non-specialist-led follow-up on survival and detection of recurrence, and how intensity of follow-up affects health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression, are uncertain. There was little evidence for the effects of follow-up integrating additional patient symptom education/monitoring and survivorship care plans.

A systematic review of mobile health interventions in China: Identifying gaps in care

INTRODUCTION

Mobile health has a promising future in the healthcare system in most developed countries. China's rapidly developing mobile technology infrastructure offers an unprecedented opportunity for wide adoption of mobile health interventions in the delivery of effective and timely healthcare services. However, there is little data on the current extent of the mobile health landscape in China. The aim of this study was to systematically review the existing mobile health initiatives in China, characterise the technology used, disease categories targeted, location of the end user (urban versus rural), and examine the potential effects of mobile health on health system strengthening in China. Furthermore, we identified gaps in development and evaluation of the effectiveness of mobile health interventions.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature published from 18 December 2015 - 3 April 2019 was conducted and yielded 2863 articles from English and Chinese retrieval database and trial registries, including PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge of Infrastructure and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Studies were included if they used mobile health to support patient healthcare outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 1129 full-text articles were assessed and 338 were included in this study. The review found that most studies targeted client education and behaviour change via applications (apps) (65.4%), including WeChat, and text messaging (short text messages) (19.8%) to improve patient medical treatment outcomes such as compliance and appointment reminders. The most common disease-specific mobile health interventions focused primarily on chronic disease management and behaviour change in cardiology (13.3%), endocrinology/diabetes (12.1%), behavioural health (11.8%), oncology (11.2%) and neurology (6.8%). The mobile health interventions related to nutrition (0.6%) and chronic respiratory diseases (1.6%) are underrepresented in mobile health in comparison to the burden of disease in China. The majority (90.0%) of the mobile health interventions were conducted exclusively in urban areas, with few opportunities reaching rural populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, mobile health has a promising future in China, with recent rapid growth in initiatives. The majority are focused on education and behaviour change in the realm of chronic diseases and target patients in urban areas. The imbalance in mobile health between the urban and rural areas, as well as between population disease spectrum and health service delivery, pose substantial dilemmas. However, mobile health may be redirected to correct this imbalance, possibly improving access to healthcare services, and filling the gaps in order to improve health equity for the underserved populations in China.

Methodology of an exercise intervention program using social incentives and gamification for obese children

BACKGROUND

Traditional exercise [supervised exercise (SE)] intervention has been proved to be one of the most effective ways to improve metabolic health. However, most exercise interventions were on a high-cost and small scale, moreover lacking of the long-term effect due to low engagement. On the other hand, it was noteworthy that gamification and social incentives were promising strategies to increase engagement and sustain exercise interventions effects; as well as mobile technologies such as WeChat also can provide an appropriate platform to deploy interventions on a broader, low-cost scale. Thus, we aim to develop a novel exercise intervention ('S&G exercise intervention') that combines SE intervention with gamification and social incentives design through WeChat, with the aim of improving metabolic health and poor behaviors among overweight and obesity children.

METHODS

We propose a randomized controlled trial of a 'S&G exercise intervention' among 420 overweight and obese children who have at least one marker of metabolic syndrome. Children will be randomized to control or intervention group in a 1:1 ratio. The exercise intervention package includes intervention designs based on integrated social incentives and gamification theory, involving targeted essential volume and intensity of activity (skipping rope) as well as monitoring daily information and providing health advice by WeChat. Participants will undertake assessments at baseline, at end of intervention period, in the follow-up time at months 3,6,12. The primary outcome is outcome of metabolic health. Secondary outcomes include behavioral (e.g., diary physical activity, diet) and anthropometric measures (e.g., body fat rate and muscle mass).

DISCUSSIONS

This will be the first study to design an exercise intervention model that combines traditional supervised exercise (SE) intervention with gamification and social incentives theory through WeChat. We believed that this study could explore a low-cost, easy-to-popularize, and effective exercise intervention model for improving metabolic health and promote healthy among obese children. Furthermore, it will also provide important evidence for guidelines to prevent and improve metabolic health and health behaviors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

10-04-2019;Registration number: ChiCTR1900022396 .

Oral & Maxillofacial surgery is ready for patient-centred eHealth interventions - the outcomes of a scoping review

Within the field of oral and maxillofacial (OMF) surgery, eHealth is expected to be a tool to improve quality of care. The aim of this study is to map the research of patient-centred eHealth interventions within OMF surgery by means of a scoping review. After a systematic literature search, relevant studies on patient-centred eHealth interventions for OMF-surgery patients were selected. The interventions were mapped based on their key components, target population and outcome measures. To gain insight in the research phase of evaluation, the framework of the Medical Research Council (MRC) was used. Forty-one papers were included, comprising 34 unique interventions. Nineteen interventions were designed for head and neck cancer patients, 11 interventions concernd video-teleconsultation. According to the MRC framework, 26 papers fitted into the feasibility and piloting phase of research, 8 into the evaluation phase, 7 were in the development phase. No implementation studies were found. This scoping review can be a starting point for those who are interested in applying and evaluating eHealth in their practice. Since many feasibility and pilot studies were found on similar interventions, a more extensive collaboration with and connecting to each other is recommended to catalyze the implementation of eHealth in daily practice. Profound involvement of patients in developing and evaluating eHealth interventions is essential to achieve true patient-centred OMF surgery.

The Evidence and Future Potential of WeChat in Providing Support for Chinese Parents of Pediatric Patients Undergoing Herniorrhaphy

Introduction: Based on the current medical environment in China, this study developed a WeChat-based health education program for parents of children undergoing day surgery herniorrhaphy and evaluated the users' satisfaction of its usage by adapting the technology acceptance model. Methodology: A descriptive quantitative online design with a researcher-developed Satisfaction Questionnaire was used to survey 198 users in the university-affiliated hospital in China. Results: The users were generally satisfied with the program. The users living in urban areas obtained higher satisfaction (β coefficient = 1.763, p = .006). The users who were satisfied showed high intention to recommend WeChat to other parents. Discussion: In general, WeChat users found the educational program useful, and similar educational intervention can be expanded to other areas in China.

Establishment of a New Platform for the Management of Patients After Cardiac Surgery: Descriptive Study

BACKGROUND

Medical care for the Chinese population has been focused on first-line treatment, but with little follow-up on treated patients. As an important part of clinical work, follow-up evaluations are of great significance for the long-term survival of patients and for clinical and scientific research. However, the overall follow-up rate of discharged patients after surgery has been low for many years because of the limitations of certain follow-up methods and the presence of objective, practical problems.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to construct a new two-way interactive telemedicine follow-up platform to improve the collection of clinical data after cardiac surgery and provide reliable and high-quality follow-up services.

METHODS

Computer and network technologies were employed in the context of "Internet +" to develop follow-up databases and software compatible with a mobile network. Postoperative follow-up quality data including the follow-up rate and important postoperative indices were used as standards to evaluate the new follow-up management model after cardiac surgery.

RESULTS

This system has been officially operated for more than 5 years. A total of 5347 patients undergoing cardiac surgery have been enrolled, and the total follow-up rate was 90.22%. In addition, 6349 echocardiographic images, 4717 electrocardiographic images, and 3504 chest radiographic images have been uploaded during follow-up assessments. The international standardized ratio was 20,696 person-times.

CONCLUSIONS

This new management follow-up platform can be used to effectively collect clinical data, provide technical support for academic research, extend medical services, and provide more help to patients. It is of great significance for managing patients after cardiac surgery.