Performance of remote health education via WeChat to improve the pre-operative nutritional status of infants with non-restrictive ventricular septal defects: A prospective randomised controlled study.

AIM

This study aimed to explore the effect of performing remote health education via WeChat to improve the pre-operative nutritional status of non-restrictive ventricular septal defects (VSD).

METHODS

A prospective randomised controlled study was conducted in a provincial maternity and child hospital in China. Participants were randomised regarding education to the intervention group (WeChat) and the control group (leaflets). The nutritional status and complications of the patients were compared after intervening for 1 month.

RESULTS

Nutrient status comparison at 1 month after intervention showed that the body weight, head circumference, haemoglobin, albumin and pre-albumin of the WeChat group were significantly higher than those of the leaflet group (P < 0.05). The STRONGkids score of the WeChat group was significantly lower than that of the leaflet group (P < 0.05). The incidence of feeding intolerance and respiratory tract infection in the WeChat group was significantly lower than that found in the leaflet group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of liver insufficiency and jaundice between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Providing pre-operative feeding and care guidance for parents of infants with non-restrictive VSD, via remote health education through WeChat, can effectively improve nutritional status and reduce the risk of malnutrition and feeding complications.

© 2021 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians).