WeChat-based mobile health management for short-stature children with long-term growth hormone therapy: A nonexperimental study

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the role of a WeChat-based mobile platform in growth hormone therapy. Method Growth hormone therapy and health education information for height growth were embedded in a WeChat-based mobile platform, and the platform was evaluated through medical staff assessments, patient volunteer assessments and quantitative scoring criteria. Results In the medical staff evaluation, both clinicians and nurses had a positive attitude towards the mobile platform, believing that the design of the mobile platform was clearly visualized and easy to operate. In family volunteers’ evaluations, the summary of β-testing results showed that 90–100% of parents had a positive attitude towards the WeChat-based mobile platform. Parents of the patients and doctors and nurses assessed the mobile platform by reviewing quantitative scoring standards developed by professional researchers. All scores were >16 (the average score was 18–19.3). Children treated with growth hormone therapy were included for compliance tracking for one year, and patient adherence was described in this study. Conclusion The interaction based on the WeChat platform and the health education of the public have greatly increased the interaction between doctors and patients, and improved patient satisfaction and compliance.