Effects of using WeChat-assisted perioperative care instructions for parents of pediatric patients undergoing day surgery for herniorrhaphy

Objective: This study examined the effects of WeChat-assisted perioperative instructions for parents whose children were to undergo herniorrhaphy. Method: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a day surgery center in China. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (WeChat) group (n = 209) and the control (Leaflet) group (n = 209). The primary outcomes of this study were parents’ knowledge regarding hernia and rate of cancellation of children’s surgery. The secondary outcomes were the rate of lost-to-follow-up and the rate of complications and adverse events during the seventh postoperative follow-up day. Results: There was a significant difference in the rate of cancelling the surgery and the mean knowledge score between the WeChat group and leaflet groups. The lost-to-follow-up rate was significantly lower in the WeChat group (0.54%) than in the leaflet group (3.66%). The incidence of postoperative complications were higher in the control group. Conclusions: WeChat-assisted perioperative care instructions enhanced parents’ knowledge on perioperative instructions and promoted the preparation of their children for day surgery resulting in lower rate of cancelling the surgery. Practice implications: WeChat has the ability to expand health services outside the hospital confines and could be used as an important low-cost health educational medium in China.