Influence of WeChat platform on the compliance of continuous treatment of scar in adult burn patients

Objective To explore influence of the WeChat platform on the compliance of continuous treatment of scar in adult burn patients. Methods A total of 124 adult burn patients, conforming to the study criteria, admitted in the Department of Burns of our hospital from January 2015 to January 2016 were divided into WeChat group (n=63) and control group (n=61) according to the random number table. Patients in control group only received regular discharging rehabilitation guide, while patients in WeChat group received regular discharging rehabilitation guide and joined WeChat platform after being discharged from hospital. Through pushing rehabilitation plan and rehabilitation related knowledge, organizing support discussion of burn patients, answering the patients′ questions, members of WeChat platform intervention group conducted continuous treatment for 6 months on patients of WeChat group. The compliance of functional exercise of patients in two groups in one week before discharge and 3 and 6 months after discharge was evaluated by using the self-made functional exercise compliance log sheet. The compliance of using anti-scar drug and appliance of patients in two groups in 3 and 6 months after discharge was evaluated by using self-made anti-scar drug and appliance usage log sheets. Data were processed with chi-square test, independent sample t test, non-parametric rank sum test of independent sample, and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results (1) The compliance ratio of functional exercise of patients in WeChat group (95.24%, 60/63) was close to 93.44% (57/61) in control group in one week before discharge (χ²=0.188, P>0.05). The compliance ratios of functional exercise of patients in WeChat group were respectively 93.65% (59/63) and 87.30% (55/63) in 3 and 6 months after discharge, which were higher than 68.85% (42/61) and 65.57% (40/61) in control group (χ²=12.615, 8.166, P<0.01). (2) The compliance of using anti-scar drug of patients in WeChat group was significantly better than that in control group in 3 and 6 months after discharge (Z=-4.150, -4.563, P<0.01). (3) The compliance of using anti-scar appliance of patients in WeChat group in 3 and 6 months after discharge was obviously better than that in control group (Z=-4.242, -4.301, P<0.01). Conclusions By using WeChat platform to provide guide for scar rehabilitation continuous treatment, adult burn patients have better compliance to functional exercise and usage of anti-scar drug and appliance.