Evaluating the Quality of Health-Related WeChat Public Accounts: Cross-Sectional Study

Wang, Fuzhi; Wang, Zhuoxin; Wei, Sun; Yang, Xiumu; Bian, Zhiwei; Shen, Lining; Pan, Wei; Liu, Peng; Chen, Xingzhi; Fu, Lianguo; Zhang, Fan; Luo, Dan

doi:10.2196/14826

Cited by 32 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(28 reference statements)

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“…One limitation is that we only focused on Chinese-language apps available on the two most popular operating systems (Android and iOS), and thus missed apps available in other languages or on other operating systems. Although WeChat public accounts have been increasingly used as mHealth tools in China [ 46 ], we did not include WeChat public accounts for AS management, such as the Smart-phone SpondyloArthritis Management System [ 11 ]. We searched for apps in two of the most popular app stores (the Huawei and Apple App Stores) for Android and iOS operating systems in China, but apps exclusively in other app stores (eg, Microsoft) were not included in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Chinese Mobile Health Apps for Ankylosing Spondylitis Management: Systematic App Search

Song

Chen

2021

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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Background Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a chronic systematic inflammatory disease, require long-term treatment and management. Mobile health (mHealth) apps can deliver health services through mobile devices, facilitate long-term disease management, support patient–health care provider communication, and enable patients to engage in disease management. There are some apps targeted at patients with AS, but the feature and quality of these apps have not been systematically examined. Objective The aim of this study was to identify existing, publicly available Chinese mHealth apps for AS management and to evaluate their features and quality. Methods We systematically searched potential apps for AS management on the Apple and Huawei App Stores, using 4 search terms: ankylosing spondylitis, spondyloarthritis, rheumatic disease, and arthritis. Apps were included if they were in the Chinese language, targeted at patients with AS, could be downloaded and run on Android and/or iOS operating systems, and incorporated elements of disease management and/or patient education. We excluded apps that were not for patient use, not relevant to AS, or had not been updated since 2018. Apps that met the inclusion criteria were downloaded for final analysis. We formulated a list of app quality measures from and consistent with international guidelines for mHealth apps and AS management to evaluate the features and quality of the included app. The user version of the Mobile App Rating Scale (uMARS) was also used to rate the apps’ quality. Results Of the 354 apps screened, 5 met the inclusion criteria and were included in our analysis. All apps were free, and most apps (4/5, 80%) had a privacy policy. Of the 5 apps, 1 (20%) involved medical professionals in the development process, 2 (40%) were developed by companies, and 2 (40%) were developed by medical institutions. All apps provided educational information about AS. Around half of the apps had functions like a basic information record (ie, users can input gender, age, disease history, etc) (n=3, 60%), patient–health care provider (and patient-patient) communication (n=2, 40%), symptom tracking (n=2, 40%), and information sharing (n=3, 60%). Only 1 (20%) app provided comprehensive functions that adhered to international guidelines for AS management and mHealth apps. The overall uMARS scores ranged from 2.7 to 4.2; only 1 app, with an overall uMARS score of 4.2, was considered as a high-quality app. Conclusions Most apps lacked comprehensive functions for AS management. One high-quality app provided comprehensive functions to help patients manage their conditions. This study assessed and summarized the features and quality of the apps but did not evaluate their efficacy. Future studies should evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of these apps. International guidelines and regulations for the design, development, validation, and implementation of mHealth apps are needed in the future. Meanwhile, health care providers, patients with AS, and app developers should collaborate to develop high-quality, evidence-based apps that take into account patients’ needs and health care professionals’ perspectives.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Chinese Mobile Health Apps for Ankylosing Spondylitis Management: Systematic App Search

Song

Chen

2021

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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“…(Luo et al, 2019 ). (ii) The establishment of the information database provided parents with a platform to actively learn about osteosarcoma-related information, which indicated that they might be more prepared to manage their children (Wang et al, 2020 ). (iii) Through the one-to-one or group chat mode of WeChat, parents could get in touch with the nursing staff timely to obtain professional advice; they could also communicate with other members to exchange experiences, encourage each other, and reduce negative emotions (Luo et al, 2019 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

WeChat-platform-based education and care program as a candidate approach to relieve anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder in parents of pediatric and adolescent patients with osteosarcoma

Meng

2022

Front. Psychol.

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BackgroundWeChat is the main social platform in China, characterized by its versatility and ease of communication. This study aimed to explore the effect of a WeChat-platform-based education and care (WBEC) program on relieving anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in parents of pediatric and adolescent patients with osteosarcoma.MethodsIn total, 48 patients and 86 parents were enrolled in this randomized, controlled study and then assigned to the WBEC program (24 patients and 45 parents) and the usual education and care (UEC) program (22 patients and 41 parents) for 6 months as a 1:1 ratio.ResultsParents in the WBEC group had lower Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for anxiety (HADS-A) scores at M3 (7.8 ± 2.2 vs. 9.1 ± 2.5; p = 0.010) and M6 (7.7 ± 2.5 vs. 8.9 ± 2.4; p = 0.027) when compared to the UEC group, while anxiety rate was only decreased at M3 (43.2% vs. 63.4%; p = 0.049) in the WBEC group. Meanwhile, parental HADS for depression (HADS-D) scores were reduced at M3 (7.0 ± 2.0 vs. 8.0 ± 2.1; p = 0.047) and M6 (7.1 ± 1.9 vs. 8.0 ± 2.4; p = 0.045) in the WBEC group when compared with the UEC group; while depression rate remained the same. Parental Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) scores were slightly reduced among the WBEC group at M6 when compared with the UEC group [12.0 (interquartile range (IQR): 10.0–20.8] vs. 15.0 (IQR: 9.5–25.0; p = 0.077)], but not statistically significant.ConclusionWeChat-platform-based education and care is considered a feasible intervention to reduce anxiety and depression in parents of pediatric and adolescent patients with osteosarcoma, while also providing mild relief from PTSD.

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“…The pandemic of Covid-19 has affected the patterns of urological education to a certain extent, and Published by Francis Academic Press, UK -77-medical students have benefited from e-learning during that time. To avoid misgivings of the unprofessional contents when establishing an online medical learning platform through social media like WeChat, the Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct (HONcode) should be applied to evaluate the suitability of articles disseminated by health-related WeChat public accounts [29]. Besides, the peerreview system may be taken into consideration for the appraisal of original online learning resources and a quick double-check system can be used in the technical review of compiled or translated contents.…”

Section: Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

Covid-19 pandemic on WeChat-based urological E-learning in China: a mini review

2021

FER

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The last decades witnessed rapid development of mobile Internet, which has remarkably changed people's lifestyle. As one of the most popular social media in China, WeChat has severed as an auxiliary learning tool. The pandemic of Covid-19 has led to transitions of e-learning in medicine education including urology. Travel restrictions and social distance concerns made more citizens to work and study through WeChat and masses of related publications could consequently be searched. The present mini review focused on impacts of Covid-19 pandemic on WeChat-based urological online learning in China.

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Evaluating the Quality of Health-Related WeChat Public Accounts: Cross-Sectional Study

Cited by 32 publications

References 33 publications

Evaluating Chinese Mobile Health Apps for Ankylosing Spondylitis Management: Systematic App Search

Evaluating Chinese Mobile Health Apps for Ankylosing Spondylitis Management: Systematic App Search

WeChat-platform-based education and care program as a candidate approach to relieve anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder in parents of pediatric and adolescent patients with osteosarcoma

Covid-19 pandemic on WeChat-based urological E-learning in China: a mini review

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