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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Aug 25;24(8):e36000.
doi: 10.2196/36000.

Effects of a WeChat-Based Life Review Program for Patients With Digestive System Cancer: 3-Arm Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial

Meihua Zheng #  1   2 , Xiaoling Zhang #  1 , Huimin Xiao  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of a WeChat-Based Life Review Program for Patients With Digestive System Cancer: 3-Arm Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial

Meihua Zheng et al. J Med Internet Res. .

Abstract

Background: Patients with digestive system cancer often experience psychospiritual distress. Life review is an evidence-based psychological intervention for patients with cancer, but the effects of digital life review programs are unclear, especially for patients with digestive system cancer.

Objective: We examined the effects of a WeChat-based life review program on the psychospiritual well-being of patients with digestive system cancer.

Methods: This study was a 3-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. Eligible patients with digestive system cancer were recruited from a university hospital in Fujian, China. They were randomized to a life review group and 2 control groups. All participants received routine care, and the life review group also received the 4-week WeChat-based life review program. Control group 1 also received a 4-week program of friendly visiting. Anxiety, depression, hope, and self-transcendence were measured at baseline and 2 days, 1 month, and 6 months after the intervention.

Results: A total of 150 participants were randomly allocated to the WeChat-based life review group (n=50), control group 1 (n=50), or control group 2 (n=50). The overall dropout rate was 10% (15/150), and 92% (46/50) of participants in the the life review group completed the intervention. Significant interaction effects for time and group membership were found for anxiety (P<.001), depression (P<.001), hope (P<.001), and self-transcendence (P<.001) at all follow-up time points. For anxiety and depression, the scores did not differ significantly between the life review group and control group 1 on day 2 (P=.80 for anxiety, P=.51 for depression), but the scores were significantly lower in the life review group at month 1 and month 6 (P=.02 for anxiety at both months 1 and 6; P=.003 and P<.001 for depression at months 1 and 6, respectively). Significant increases in hope and self-transcendence were revealed in the life review group compared to control group participants at all follow-up sessions.

Conclusions: The WeChat-based life review program was effective in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms and in improving the level of hope and self-transcendence among patients with digestive system cancer. Though friendly visiting can also help to relieve anxiety, its effects are short-term.

Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-IOR-17011998; https://tinyurl.com/5acycpd4.

Keywords: anxiety; cancer; depression; digestive system; digestive system cancer; digital technology; distress; hope; life review; psychological; randomized controlled trial; self-transcendence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in the mean scores for anxiety, depression, hope, and self-transcendence in the patients over time. CG1: control group 1; CG2: control group 2; LRG: life review group; T0: baseline; T1: 2 days postintervention; T2: 1 month postintervention; T3: 6 months postintervention.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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