Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42030512›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2026

Effect of a WeChat Intervention Based on the Common-Sense Model on Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Preventive Behaviors: Quasi-Experimental Study.

Xia Luo, Jing Chen, Mingfang Li, Xinyi Li, Jun Yan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Xia LuoSchool of Nursing, Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Medical College Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China, 86 17358949687.ORCID 0000-0003-2088-386X
Jing ChenSchool of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, No.74 Zhong Shan Second Road, Guangzhou, 510078, China, 86 134 1634 7847.ORCID 0000-0003-0193-2806
Mingfang LiSchool of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, No.74 Zhong Shan Second Road, Guangzhou, 510078, China, 86 134 1634 7847.ORCID 0000-0003-0133-4558
Xinyi LiSchool of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, No.74 Zhong Shan Second Road, Guangzhou, 510078, China, 86 134 1634 7847.ORCID 0009-0004-7521-0245
Jun YanSchool of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, No.74 Zhong Shan Second Road, Guangzhou, 510078, China, 86 134 1634 7847.ORCID 0000-0001-5910-2229

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer-related lymphedema is the most prevalent postoperative complication among breast cancer survivors. Although mobile health tools are increasingly used for patient education, evidence supporting their efficacy in lymphedema prevention remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a WeChat-based intervention grounded in the common-sense model (CSM) in improving preventive behaviors, modifying illness perceptions, and reducing lymphedema incidence among breast cancer survivors and to validate the targets of the intervention. Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental design. Participants (N=192) were recruited from the breast cancer department of a cancer hospital in Guangzhou, China. The control group (n=98) received routine care. The intervention group (n=94) participated in a 3-month CSM-guided WeChat mini-program ("Nantian e-Care") delivering tailored educational articles, exercise tutorials, arm circumference monitoring, and real-time nurse consultations. Outcomes, including preventive behaviors, illness perceptions, and lymphedema incidence, were assessed 1, 3, and 6 months post surgery. Generalized estimating equations were used for the analysis. Results: The intervention group exhibited significant improvements in lifestyle adjustments (Wald χ22=6.9, P=.03) and physical exercise adherence (Wald χ22=6.9, P=.03) compared with the control group. Illness perception, including identity (Wald χ23=8.1, P=.04), timeline cyclical (Wald χ23=8.5, P=.04), personal control (Wald χ23=9.3, P=.03), illness coherence (Wald χ23=29.8, P<.001), and behavioral (Wald χ23=19.5, P<.001) and physical factors (Wald χ23=24.1, P<.001) were markedly enhanced. Mechanistically, skin care improvements were driven by intervention effects, personal control, illness coherence, and behavioral attribution. Lifestyle changes were correlated with intervention and illness coherence. Adherence to physical exercise was not statistically significantly affected by the intervention, although a trend was observed. Critically, the intervention group demonstrated a lower incidence of lymphedema at 6 months (7.50% vs 16.48%, χ21=3.9, P=.048). Conclusions: The CSM-guided WeChat intervention effectively promoted preventive behaviors, optimized illness perceptions, and reduced lymphedema risk. These findings underscore the value of integrating theory-driven mobile health tools into postoperative care and highlight scalable strategies for chronic disease management in resource-limited settings.

Indexed as

Breast Cancer LymphedemaBreast NeoplasmsLymphedemaAdultAgedChinaFemaleHealth BehaviorHumansMiddle AgedPatient Education as Topicbreast cancer–related lymphedemacommon-sense modelillness perceptionpreventive behaviorsWeChat

Identifiers

PMID42030512
PMCPMC13108839

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.