The Efficacy of the WeChat App Combined with Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise for the Urinary Incontinence after Radical Prostatectomy

Abstract

Objective. This research is aimed at studying the effect of the WeChat app combined with pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) on urinary incontinence (UI) for patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP). Patients and Methods. We retrospectively reviewed 112 patients who not only had done open RP or laparoscopic RP in our institution but also had sufficient data: preoperative information and more than one year of follow-up records. All the patients received instructions in correct pelvic floor muscle contraction and were encouraged to train the pelvic floor muscle. 58 patients, who were offered additional training guide by the WeChat app after hospital, were divided into group A, while the other 54 patients, who did PFME alone after hospital, were divided into group B. All the patients underwent a 24 h pad test at 3 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after catheter removal. The differences in preoperative information and the results of the 24 h pad test in the follow-up, from the two groups of patients, were compared statistically. And we defined “urinary continence” as 0 g at a 24 h pad test. Results. No statistically significant difference in background variable in patients of group A and group B was found. On a 24 h pad test (g), group A had better results compared to group B: 254±76 vs 293±86 (1 month, p<0.05), 76±47 vs 98±58 (3 months, p<0.05), 23±31 vs 48±41 (6 months, p<0.001), 5±3 vs 11±5 (12 months, p<0.001). On the urinary continence, 31% were continent in group A vs 13% in group B (3 months, p<0.05). And it increased to 50% in group A compared to 24% in group B (6 months, p<0.01). Conclusion. Compared to doing PFME alone, the WeChat app combined with pelvic floor muscle training can decrease urine leakage and increase the number of urinary continence after radical prostatectomy.

Preoperative exercise interventions to optimize continence outcomes following radical prostatectomy

“…This change in communication mode led to a significant decrease in urinary leakage at 1–3 months compared with PFME alone (24-h pad test (g): mean ± s.d. 254 ± 76 in the intervention group versus 293 ± 86 in the control group at 1 month, P < 0.05, and mean 76 ± 47 versus 98 ± 58 at 3 months, P < 0.05) 223 .…”

Effects of using WeChat/WhatsApp on physical and psychosocial health outcomes among oncology patients: A systematic review

“…16 As well, after 1 year of WeChat intervention, there was significantly improved self-reported continence in post-surgical prostate cancer patients, compared to the participants’ immediate post-surgical continence ( p < 0.001). 21 Statistically significant lower treatment discomfort scores were reported among breast cancer patients after a WeChat and telephone intervention period of 3 months, compared to a telephone control group. 25 In a 4 year follow up period of a randomized controlled trial, there was increased non-statistically significant survivorship values reported when comparing the WeChat intervention group to the telephone control group.…”

Effect of WeChat consultation group on residents staying at home in Sichuan and Chongqing regions during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China: a cross-sectional study

“…The number of consultation items has significantly increased over a short period, which may be related to the attitude toward the public's unknown and panic psychology at the early stage of the outbreak [11], which needed to be addressed by medical experts providing professional answers and psychological counseling. Multiple studies [12][13][14][15] have revealed that WeChat consultation services can deliver effective, convenient, and timely help to the general public.…”