WeChat-assisted pre-operative health education improves the quality of life of parents of children with ventricular septal defects: A prospective randomised controlled study

Aim This study aimed to explore the effect of implementing pre-operative WeChat-assisted health education for parents of children with restrictive ventricular septal defects to improve their quality of life. Methods A prospective randomised controlled study was conducted in a provincial hospital in China. Participants were randomly divided into the intervention group (WeChat group, n = 35) and the control group (leaflet group, n = 35). The quality of life of parents of children with restricted ventricular septal defects was studied. Results Compared with the leaflet group, the WeChat group had a significantly lower score for the pre-operative Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) (P < 0.05). The pre-operative SAS score in the WeChat group was significantly lower than that at the first visit (P < 0.05). However, the SAS score in the leaflet group was similar at the time of preoperation and the first visit (P > 0.05). The pre-operative scores of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) scale in the physiological, psychological, social, and environmental fields and the total life quality score in the WeChat group were significantly higher than those of the leaflet group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Implementing pre-operative WeChat-assisted health education for parents of children with restrictive ventricular septal defects can effectively relieve their anxiety and improve their quality of life.

Automated summary

The study found that implementing pre-operative WeChat-assisted health education can significantly reduce anxiety in parents of children with restrictive ventricular septal defects, as well as improve their quality of life.