Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Mar 6, 2022
Date Accepted: Jul 29, 2022
Effects of a WeChat-based Life Review Program for Digestive System Cancer Patients: A Three-arm Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Digestive system cancer patients often experience psycho-spiritual distress. Life review is an evidence-based psychological intervention for cancer patients, but the effects of digital life review programs are unclear, especially for digestive system cancer patients.
Objective:
To examine the effects of a WeChat-based life review program on the psycho-spiritual well-being of patients with digestive system cancer.
Methods:
A three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted in the study. One hundred fifty eligible digestive system cancer patients were randomly assigned to the WeChat-based life review (n=50), friendly visiting (n=50), or control (n=50) groups. All participants received the routine care provided by the hospital. The WeChat-based life review program was conducted for 4 weeks. Anxiety, depression, hope, and self-transcendence were measured at baseline, two days (T1), one month (T2), and six months (T3) after the program. A repeated-measures ANOVA for repeated measurement and intention-to-treat analysis were conducted to analyze the differences between the three groups.
Results:
The intention-to-treat analysis was used in the study. The ANOVA results showed significant interaction effects for anxiety (P<.001), depression (P<.001), hope (P <.001), and self-transcendence (P<.001). There was no significant difference in anxiety or depressive symptoms between the life review and friendly visiting groups at T1 (P>0.05), but anxiety and depression were significantly lower in the life review than in the friendly visiting group at T2 and T3 (P<.025). For hope and self-transcendence, there was a significant difference between the life review and friendly visiting groups throughout the program (P<.025). The life review and control groups differed significantly in anxiety, depression, hope, and self-transcendence (P<.025). The friendly visiting and control groups differed significantly in anxiety only at T1 (P=.004).
Conclusions:
The WeChat-based life review program is effective in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms and in improving the level of hope and self-transcendence among digestive system cancer patients. Though friendly visiting can also help to relieve anxiety, its effects are short-term.
Conclusions:
The WeChat-based life review program is effective in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms and in improving the level of hope and self-transcendence among digestive system cancer patients. Though friendly visiting can also help to relieve anxiety, its effects are short-term. Clinical Trial: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR‐IOR‐17011998
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