Application of WeChat-Utilized Mobile Health in Transitional Care Among Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy: A Pilot Study

This study aimed to investigate whether mobile health (mHealth)-based transitional care, which utilized WeChat, could benefit patients undergoing hepatectomy. From January 2019 to December 2020, 807 patients who underwent hepatectomy in a tertiary care hospital were included in the study. Patients were divided into a transitional care group (TC group) ( n = 238) and a control group ( n = 569) based on whether they participated in mHealth-based transitional care, which utilized the WeChat application. Depending on the type of variables, t-tests, χ2 tests, and other statistical methods were used to compare differences between groups. Propensity score matching analysis was conducted for factors that differed in basic characteristics. After 1:1 matching, 238 patients were included in each group. Less readmission within 90 days of discharge, better quality of life, and higher satisfaction were found in the TC group both before and after matching ( p < .05). This study showed the potential of applying mHealth-based transitional care among post-hepatectomy patients.