Evaluation of a WeChat‐based life review programme for cancer patients: A quasi‐experimental study

To evaluate the feasibility and effects of the WeChat-based life review programme on anxiety, depression, self-transcendence, meaning in life and hope among cancer patients.Life review is effective in improving the psychospiritual well-being of palliative patients. However, traditional life review programmes are limitedly applied in clinical practice.A non-concurrent controlled quasi-experimental design.Ninety-two cancer patients were recruited from April 2017 - February 2018, with 44 patients in the control group receiving routine care and 48 in the experimental group receiving a 6-week WeChat-based life review programme plus routine care. Compliance with the programme, difficulty in participation and satisfaction with the programme were used to explore its feasibility. Anxiety, depression, self-transcendence, meaning in life and hope were measured at baseline and immediately after the programme.All experimental participants who completed the programme used the WeChat platform; 39 participants had no difficulties in operating the platform and 40 were satisfied with the programme. Statistically significant effects were identified on anxiety, depression and self-transcendence. An increase in the levels of meaning in life and hope was observed in the experimental group after the programme.The innovative WeChat-based life review programme is an effective non-pharmacological intervention in improving psychospiritual well-being of community-dwelling cancer patients. It could be integrated into transitional care for cancer patients. Future research with rigorous design is necessary to test the effects online life reviews among cancer patients.This study was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration No: ChiCTR-IOR-17011998).目的: 评估基于微信的生活回顾项目对癌症患者焦虑、抑郁、自我超越、生活意义和希望的可行性和效果。 背景: 生活回顾对改善姑息治疗患者的精神健康状况是有效的,然而传统的生活回顾项目在临床实践中的应用是有限的。 设计: 一次非同期对照准实验设计 方法: 于2017年4月至2018年2月期间招募了92名癌症患者。 对照组44名患者接受常规护理,实验组48名患者接受为期6周的基于微信的生活回顾项目以及常规护理。按照项目要求,将使用患者参与项目的困难和对项目的满意程度来探讨项目的可行性。在进行该项目前,对患者的焦虑、抑郁、自我超越、生活意义和希望进行测量同时在项目结束后立即进行二次测量。 结果: 所有完成实验项目的参与者均使用了微信平台;39名参与者在使用该平台方面没有困难,并且40名参与者对该项目表示满意。项目对于焦虑、抑郁和自我超越具有统计上的重要意义。通过观察发现,项目结束后实验组患者的生活意义和希望水平有所提高。 结论和影响: 基于微信的生活回顾创新项目是一种改善社区癌症患者精神健康的一种有效的非药物干预疗法,它可以成为癌症患者的过渡护理的一部分。在线生活回顾对癌症患者的影响需要通过未来严谨的设计研究进行测试。 试验注册: 本研究在中国临床试验登记处进行注册(注册号为:Chi CTR - IOR -17011998).