A recent randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led WeChat Mini Program in managing asthma among children aged 6 to 11 years. Conducted in a tertiary hospital in China from January to August 2023, the study involved 108 children with asthma, with 81 completing the 6-month follow-up. All participants received standard asthma management from specialist nurses, including inhaled corticosteroids, while the experimental group also used the WeChat Mini Program for additional support. Follow-up assessments at 3 and 6 months included the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT), asthma control levels, exacerbation frequency, and lung function measures.
The results showed that the experimental group had significantly higher C-ACT scores and fewer exacerbations compared to the control group at both 3 and 6 months. While Peak Expiratory Flow improved, other lung function parameters, such as Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second Percentage Predicted (FEV1%) and FEV1/FVC, did not show significant changes. The study concluded that the WeChat Mini Program significantly improved asthma control and reduced exacerbations, though it did not substantially affect all lung function parameters. The findings suggest that incorporating digital management tools like the WeChat Mini Program into pediatric asthma care may be an effective strategy.
Reference: Wu JM, Yang TH, Qin X, et al. Effectiveness of specialist nurse-led WeChat mini program management for disease control in asthma: A randomized controlled study. J Pediatr Nurs. 2024 Nov-Dec;79:e93-e99. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2024.10.004. Epub 2024 Oct 19. PMID: 39428301.
