Effects of a Planned Web-Based Educational Intervention Based on the Health Belief Model for Patients With Ischemic Stroke in Promoting Secondary Prevention During the COVID-19 Lockdown in China: Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Abstract BackgroundSome common modified vascular risk factors remain poorly controlled among stroke survivors, and educational programs may help improve these conditions. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of a planned web-based educational intervention based on the health belief model (HBM) in promoting secondary prevention among patients with ischemic stroke. MethodsAn evaluation-blinded quasi-experimental trial with a historical control group was conducted. Patients admitted from March to June 2020 were assigned to the historical control group, and patients admitted from July to October 2020 were assigned to the intervention group. The control group received routine health management. The intervention group received 6 additional sessions based on the HBM via Tencent Meeting, an audio and video conferencing application, within 3 months after discharge. Sessions were held every 2 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 40 minutes. These sessions were conducted in small groups, with about 8 to 10 people in each group. The primary outcomes were changes in blood pressure (BP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), hemoglobin A1c1c ResultsIn total, 315 patients experiencing their first-ever stroke were analyzed. More patients in the intervention group had controlled BP (41.9% vs 28.4%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.93; PP1cPβPβP1cβPP ConclusionsA web-based education program based on the HBM may be more effective than current methods used to educate patients having strokes on optimal vascular risk factors and medication adherence.