Performance of remote health education via WeChat to improve the pre‐operative nutritional status of infants with non‐restrictive ventricular septal defects: A prospective randomised controlled study

Abstract

Aim This study aimed to explore the effect of performing remote health education via WeChat to improve the pre‐operative nutritional status of non‐restrictive ventricular septal defects (VSD). Methods A prospective randomised controlled study was conducted in a provincial maternity and child hospital in China. Participants were randomised regarding education to the intervention group (WeChat) and the control group (leaflets). The nutritional status and complications of the patients were compared after intervening for 1 month. Results Nutrient status comparison at 1 month after intervention showed that the body weight, head circumference, haemoglobin, albumin and pre‐albumin of the WeChat group were significantly higher than those of the leaflet group (P < 0.05). The STRONGkids score of the WeChat group was significantly lower than that of the leaflet group (P < 0.05). The incidence of feeding intolerance and respiratory tract infection in the WeChat group was significantly lower than that found in the leaflet group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of liver insufficiency and jaundice between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion Providing pre‐operative feeding and care guidance for parents of infants with non‐restrictive VSD, via remote health education through WeChat, can effectively improve nutritional status and reduce the risk of malnutrition and feeding complications.

Short-Term Nutritional Support Improves The Preoperative Nutritional Status of Infants With Non-Restrictive Ventricular Septal Defect: A Prospective Controlled Study

“…Ventricular septal defect is the most common congenital heart disease, among them the non-restrictive ventricular septal defect. Due to the existence of a large number of left-to-right shunt, there will be serious congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension in the early stage, which prone to symptoms such as shortness of breath and difficulty in feeding, resulting in insufficient caloric intake of infants and increased demand for energy, and then malnutrition [Lin 2021]. Therefore, non-restrictive ventricular septal defect often requires surgery in infancy, and severe malnutrition is very common before surgery.…”