Objective To discuss the influence of continuing care based on WeChat on mental health status of the dementia caregivers,and to improve mental health status of the dementia caregivers.
Methods A total of 65 dementia patients and their caregivers from elderly comprehensive ward of Zhejiang Hospital from February,2015 to April,2016 was included in the study and divided into two groups,with 32 in treatment group and 33 in control group.Routine health education including daily life,medicine,safety instruction,etc.was given to the control group during hospitalization,together with regular telephone follow-up in 3 months after discharge.The patients in the treatment group received continuing care based on WeChat for three months on this basis,including the establishment of WeChat follow-up team,regular release disease related knowledge on the official account,and arrangement for the team members to participate in WeChat group chat,etc.The self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to measure the mental health status of the dementia caregivers before and after 3 months of the intervention.
Results The caregivers level of anxiety,depression in the treatment group were 37.30±5.45 and 39.14±7.76,respectively,and in the control group were 41.73±6.39 and 43.15±7.13,after the inspection.The differences were significant (
t=-2.998,-2.170,all
P<0.05).
Conclusion WeChat,as a simple and convenient way for dementia patients'caregivers to provide professional knowledge and psychological support,provided a communication platform for different caregivers.Continuing care based on WeChat has a significant effect on improving mental health status of the dementia caregivers,and could be further promoted in clinical practice.
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