Preferences for WeChat-Based and Hospital-Based Family Intervention Among Caregivers of People Living with Schizophrenia

Xiantao Zhang; Bibo Liu; Difan Zang; Yilu Li; Shuiyuan Xiao; Yu Yu

doi:10.2147/PPA.S338936

Preferences for WeChat-Based and Hospital-Based Family Intervention Among Caregivers of People Living with Schizophrenia

Patient Prefer Adherence. 2022 Mar 5:16:635-645. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S338936. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Xiantao Zhang^#¹, Bibo Liu^#¹, Difan Zang¹, Yilu Li¹, Shuiyuan Xiao¹, Yu Yu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
² Division of Prevention and Community Research, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines the preferences for WeChat-based and hospital-based family intervention among caregivers of people living with schizophrenia (PLS) and identify correlates associated with these preferences.

Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 449 family caregivers of PLS. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect information on socio-demographics, preferences for WeChat-based and hospital-based family intervention, social support, and coping.

Results: Over 72.16% of participants endorsed hospital-based family intervention, while 50.11% endorsed WeChat-based family intervention. Endorsement of WeChat-based family intervention was associated with younger age (OR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.79), WeChat use (OR=12.90, 95% CI: 7.48, 22.23), and higher social support (OR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.04). Endorsement of hospital-based family intervention was associated with lower education (OR=0.19-0.37, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.66) and WeChat use (OR=3.27, 95% CI: 1.91, 5.59).

Conclusion: The studies showed a higher endorsement rate for hospital-based family intervention than WeChat-based family intervention and provide implications for developing targeted family intervention programs based on participants' own unique characteristics.

Keywords: WeChat; caregiving; preference; schizophrenia.