WeChat-based patient-doctor interaction improves patient experience in H. pylori infection treatment

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Frontiers in Medicine Published May 30, 2026 Medically reviewed May 30, 2026 Study authors: Boshen Lin, Wenlin Zhang, Jinghui Zhang, Minjuan Lin, Jing Liu, Zhongxue Han, Yuming Ding, Qingzhou … DOI ↗ By Dr. Julia Lee, PhD · Oncology, Genomics & Drug Development

Key Takeaway

Note improved patient experience with WeChat-based interaction in H. pylori treatment.

This randomized controlled trial involved 438 treatment-naïve patients with Helicobacter pylori infection. Participants were randomized to receive either a WeChat-based patient-doctor interaction system with physician-moderated real-time communication or routine patient education. The primary outcome was H. pylori eradication assessed at six weeks after treatment.

H. pylori eradication rates were comparable between the WeChat-based patient-doctor interaction group and the control group. In the intention-to-treat analysis, eradication rates were 90.4% versus 89.5%. Modified intention-to-treat analysis showed 93.4% versus 93.3%, and per-protocol analysis showed 94.2% versus 94.6%. These differences were not significantly promoted.

Patient experience was significantly improved in the WeChat-based patient-doctor interaction group. The proportion of patients reporting satisfactory or very satisfactory experience was 90.3% versus 74.9% in the control group. Adverse events were assessed, but serious adverse events, discontinuations, and overall tolerability were not reported.

The study did not report funding or conflicts of interest. No limitations were explicitly stated in the provided data. Clinicians should note that while the intervention did not significantly improve eradication rates, it may enhance patient experience in similar settings.

Study Details

Study typeRct

EvidenceLevel 2

PublishedMay 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy often involves complex medication regimens and may be accompanied by adverse events, which can negatively affect treatment outcomes and experience. Effective patient-doctor communication may help address these challenges. This study primarily aimed to evaluate whether a WeChat-based patient-doctor interaction (WPDI) system could improve H. pylori treatment outcomes while simultaneously enhancing patient experience. In this prospective, open-label randomized controlled trial, treatment-naïve H. pylori-infected patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to either a WPDI group or a control group. All participants received routine patient education and a 14-day vonoprazan-containing quadruple therapy. In addition to routine education, patients in the WPDI group were invited to participate in a physician-moderated WeChat group that allowed real-time communication and consultation during treatment. Patient experience, compliance, and adverse events were assessed through a standardized telephone interview after completion of therapy, and H. pylori eradication was confirmed by a 13C-urea breath test six weeks after treatment. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov. (No. NCT04850209). In total, 438 patients were enrolled for randomization. The WPDI group achieved eradication rates of 90.4% (198/219), 93.4% (198/212), and 94.2% (194/206), as evaluated by intention-to-treat, modified intention-to-treat, and per-protocol analysis, respectively. The eradication rates were comparable to those in the control group (89.5% [196/219], 93.3% [196/210], and 94.6% [192/203]. The assessment results of patient experience showed that more patients voted that the treatment was satisfactory or very satisfactory in the WPDI group (90.3% vs. 74.9%; P The WeChat-based patient-doctor interaction improved patient experience of H. pylori eradication therapy significantly while the treatment outcomes were not promoted significantly.