Zou X. et al., 2025: Application of Intelligent Continuous Nursing via WeChat Platform in Patients After ESWL: A Single-Center Retrospective Study Based on Dual Endpoints of Stone Expulsion Efficacy and Complications.

Xuelian Zou, Xiaojie Liu, Ying Yang, Hu Zhao, Changyan Zhu, Na Xu
Urology. 2025 Nov 6:S0090-4295(25)01041-6. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2025.11.002 FREE ARTICLE

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the application effect of WeChat-based intelligent continuous nursing compared with conventional continuous nursing in patients undergoing extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 301 outpatients who underwent ESWL in our hospital from January to December 2024. The patients were divided into a conventional continuous nursing control group (148 cases from January to June) and a WeChat-based intelligent continuous nursing observation group (153 cases from July to December). Both groups were followed up for 1 week to 3 months postoperatively. The primary outcomes included stone expulsion efficacy, complication incidence, self-care ability, and nursing satisfaction.

Results: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups, including age, gender, education level, stone location, stone size, total number of lithotripsy sessions, and stone clearance rate at 1 week postoperatively (all P > 0.05). The observation group showed significantly higher stone clearance rates at 2 weeks (77.1% vs. 60.8%, P < 0.01), 4 weeks (90.2% vs. 81.8%, P < 0.05), and 3 months (97.4% vs. 90.5%, P < 0.05) than the control group. The total complication rate was lower in the observation group (17% vs. 27%, P < 0.05). All four dimensions of self-care ability and overall nursing satisfaction were significantly better in the observation group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: WeChat-based intelligent continuous nursing significantly improves stone expulsion efficacy, reduces complication incidence, and enhances self-care ability and nursing satisfaction in ESWL patients, supporting its clinical promotion.

Comment Hans-Göran Tiselius

This report describes how careful communication with patients after SWL can improve the treatment outcome and counteract complications.

A comparison was made between a group of patients (n=148) exposed to conventional nursing and another group (n=153; observation) that was given detailed nursing advice via a WeChat based system. The latter is an advanced platform for detailed recommendations and instructions. Exactly how the system works is impossible to understand without direct access. We Chat is a Chinese system.

It is of note that stone expulsion was improved in the observation group. The basic understanding is that that he WeChat system enhanced patients’ self-care efficacy.

Hans-Göran Tiselius