JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The past few decades have seen an exponential increase in using mobile phones to support medical care (“mHealth”) among people living with psychosis worldwide, yet little is known about WeChat use and WeChat-based mHealth among people living with schizophrenia (PLS) in China.

Objective:

The present study aims to assess WeChat use, endorsement of WeChat-based mHealth programs, and health related to WeChat use among PLS.

Methods:

We recruited a random sample of 400 PLS from 12 communities in Changsha City of Hunan Province, China. WeChat use was assessed using the adapted WeChat Use Intensity Questionnaire (WUIQ). We also compared psychiatric symptoms, functioning, disability, recovery, quality of life, and general wellbeing between WeChat users and non-users using propensity-score matching.

Results:

The WeChat use rate was 41% in this sample (163/400). Thirty percent had more than 50 WeChat friends and nearly half spent more than half an hour on WeChat, a pattern similar to college students and the elderly. PLS also showed higher emotional connectedness to WeChat use than college students. Eighty percent of PLS were willing to participate in a WeChat-based mHealth program, including psychoeducation (56%), professional support (50%), and peer support (41%). Compared to non-users, WeChat users were younger, better-educated, and more likely to be employed. WeChat use was associated with improved health outcomes, including lower psychiatric symptoms, lower depression, higher functioning, better recovery, and higher quality of life.

Conclusions:

WeChat-based mHealth programs hold promise as an empowering tool to provide cost-effective interventions, to foster global recovery, and to improve both physical and mental wellbeing among PLS. WeChat and WeChat-based mHealth programs have the potential to offer a new path to recovery and wellbeing for PLS in China.