Providing educational and instructional support for dog bite victims via WeChat in China: A satisfaction survey

Abstract

Background WeChat in China has been used for public health education and the prevention of diseases. This study introduced a WeChat-based program for rabies prevention and evaluated the users’ satisfaction with the program using the technology acceptance model.Methods An online satisfaction questionnaire was used to survey 315 users who had followed the WeChat official account in China, and their satisfaction scores were assessed and analyzed.Results The users were generally satisfied with the WeChat-based program as an educational and instructional tool with the mean satisfaction score for each item ranging from 3.87 to 4.60 out of a maximum of 5.0 and the total mean satisfaction score of 41.54 out of a maximum of 50.0 (SD = 4.31). Urban users showed more satisfaction than rural users (p=0.031). Users who were satisfied also reported that they intended to recommend WeChat to others (p= 0.000).Conclusions Findings from the present study indicated that WeChat was considered a useful educational and instructional tool for rabies among dog-bite victims. This model of a WeChat-based program for rabies prevention should be expanded to other areas in China.