Effects of a digital learning platform on health behaviours in stroke patients from baseline to 6 months after discharge: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Aim Improving the health behavior can help prevent stroke recurrence. The existing health education interventions requires more human resource. Lack of constructing a low-cost, highly universal and easy-to-use stroke secondary prevention platform based on the existing medical resources. Methods and results This was a randomized controlled trial to test the effects of a digital learning platform on the health knowledge, beliefs and behaviors of stroke patients from baseline to 6 months after discharge. The control group received routine health education while the intervention group received health belief education during hospitalization and used digital learning platform for 6 months after discharge. The health knowledge was assessed by The Stroke Health Knowledge Questionnaire, health beliefs by The Short Form Health Belief Model Scale for Stroke Patients and health behaviors by Stroke Health Behavior Scale. A total of 90 patients were included: 45 each in the intervention group and the control group, of whom 38 and 37 completed the study, respectively. At 6 months at discharge: (1) The health knowledge score of the intervention group was unsignificantly higher than that of the control group. (2) The health belief score of the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group. (3) The intervention group had higher health behavior scores especially in physical activity than that of the control group. Other health behavior dimensions have time effect, but not significant. Conclusions The digital learning platform can improve health behaviors of stroke patients 6 months after discharge, especially in physical activity.