Impact of a Health Action Process Approach model-based mobile health intervention on health behaviours of brucella patients: protocol for an intervention randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background Brucellosis, one of the most common zoonotic diseases globally, is a serious public health problem. Effective health management is crucial in helping brucellosis patients develop and master self-management behavioural competencies. In recent years, mHealth has emerged as a popular and highly effective intervention for improving health-related outcomes for individuals with brucellosis. This study aims to explore the use of mHealth intervention, guided by the Health Action Process Approach theoretical model, to enhance the self-management level of brucellosis patients. Methods This study will be a single-blind single-centre randomized controlled trial conducted at the Fourth Central Hospital of Baoding City, Hebei Province. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Fourth Central Hospital of Baoding City. The registration number of this experiment is ChiCTR2200064320. The estimated sample size will be 58 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the mobile health intervention group or the routine education group. The mobile health education intervention will be delivered through an artificial intelligence terminal WeChat platform, while the routine management group will receive routine discharge education and a brochure on "Brucella Health Education". The primary outcome indicators will be the rate of health behaviour formation and health literacy. Secondary outcomes will be the measurement of psychological variables and behaviour change. Questionnaires were administered at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of follow-up to assess changes in health behaviour formation and health literacy among the respondents. Discussion This study will help to fill the research gap of postoperative health management of brucellosis patients in China based on health theory guidance. It will be the first health intervention study in China to apply the HAPA theoretical model as a guide for a group of brucellosis patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of the HAPA model as a theoretical guide for improving health behaviors in patients with brucellosis and to confirm the validity of the HAPA theory as an effective theory to guide the improvement of health behaviors in patients.