Effects of WeChat self-management program on self-management behavior in discharged patients with ostomies

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of WeChat self-management program on self-management behavior in discharged patients with ostomies. Methods Using convenience sampling method, a total of 120 cases of colorectal cancer patients undergoing colostomy from March 2015 to February 2016 in the colorectal cancer treatment center of a ClassⅢ Grade A hospital in Dalian were selected as the research subjects. The patients from March to August 2015 were assigned as the control group, and the patients from September 2015 to February 2016 were assigned as the intervention group, with 60 cases in each group. The control group was guided by routine methods, while the intervention group was managed by self-management project of Wechat platform, including Wechat public platform intervention, Wechat group intervention, enterostomy diary monitoring and case management. The self-management abilities of the two groups were compared. Results Of the 120 patients, 111 were completed, 56 in the intervention group and 55 in the control group. The time difference of self-management ability in each dimension and total score between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.01) , and the improvement of stoma nursing management, daily life management, information management, psychological management and overall self-management ability in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group. There were significant differences between the two groups at 1 and 6 weeks after the intervention (P<0.05) . Conclusions The Wechat self-manegement program can improve the ability of self-management among patients with ostomies after discharge. Key words: Colorectal neoplasms; Ostomy; WeChat; Self-management