Application effect of peer education based on WeChat groups in elderly patients with chronic diseases

Tao Chaoyun; Tang Huaping; Zhuo Yinxia; Gan Xiaowen; Sheng Jie; Tang Qiaofeng

doi:10.11986/j.issn.1673-873X.2023.12.016

Abstract：Objective To explore the application of peer education based on WeChat groups in elderly patients with chronic diseases,in order to provide evidence for clinical treatment.Methods A total of 204 elderly patients with chronic diseases treated at Ma'anshan People's Hospital from January 2021 to March 2023 were selected as the study participants,who were randomly allocated to a study group and a control group,with 102 patients in each group.The control group received routine chronic disease health management;while the study group,the WeChat group-based peer education in addition to the routine management.After intervention(3 months after intervention),the health education knowledge mastery and degree of satis-faction with nursing of the two groups were compared.The scores of the Exercise of Self-Care Agency(ESCA),Symptom Checklist-90(SCL-90),Control Attitude Scale-Revised(CAS-R),and Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74(GQOL-74)were compared between the two groups before and after intervention(3 months after intervention).Results The health knowledge mastery and degree of satisfaction with nursing of the study group were significantly higher than those of the con-trol group(P＜0.05).Before intervention,no significant difference was found in the scores of health knowledge level,in-tervention skills,sense of responsibility,and self-concept in the ESCA between the groups(P＞0.05).The scores of health knowledge level,intervention skills,sense of responsibility,and self-concept in the ESCA were increased After interven-tion,and the study group was higher than the control group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Before in-tervention,no significant difference was found in the scores of somatization symptoms,anxiety,depression,and fear in the SCL-90 between the two groups(P＞0.05).The scores of somatization symptoms,anxiety,depression,and fear in the SCL-90 were reduced after intervention,and the study group was lower than the control group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Before intervention,no significant difference was noted in the scores of learned helplessness,psy-chological control source,and self-efficacy in the CAS-R between the groups(P＞0.05).The scores of learned helpless-ness,psychological control source,and self-efficacy in the CAS-R were elevated after intervention,and the study group was higher than the control group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Before intervention,no significant differ-ence was observed in the scores of physical function,material living status,psychological health,social function,and overall quality of life in the GQOL-74 between the groups(P＞0.05).The scores of physical function,material living status,psy-chological health,social function,and overall quality of life in the GQOL-74 were increased after intervention,and the study group was higher than the control group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Conclusion Peer education based on WeChat groups has marked effects on the health management of elderly patients with chronic diseases.It can pro-mote patients'health knowledge mastery,alleviate their negative emotions,enhance their self-care ability and disease per-ception and control ability,and ultimately raise their quality of life and degree of satisfaction with nursing.These benefits hold promise for a wider clinical application.