Home›Oncology› MOL-led WeChat and face-to-face intervention targets 30-day treatment in upper GI cancer
MOL-led WeChat and face-to-face intervention targets 30-day treatment in upper GI cancerNew Management Plan Aims to Speed Up Cancer Treatment
BMJ openPublished October 1, 2026Study authors: Liu Ruyue, Zheng Chao, Wang Liyu, Zhang Nan, Sun QiangPubMed ↗DOI ↗Editorial oversight: Dr. Julia Lee, PhD · Oncology, Genomics & Drug Development
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Key Takeaway
Recognize this as a protocol only; no results are available to guide practice.
This is a protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial, not a report of results. The planned trial will evaluate a MOL-led management intervention comprising WeChat-based health education and face-to-face consultations versus a control group in screen-positive patients aged 18 to 80 years with confirmed oesophageal or gastric cancer in rural China. The study will be conducted at 16 secondary hospitals in Shandong province, with a planned sample size of at least 372 participants.
The primary outcome is the 30-day timely treatment rate, defined as the proportion of participants who initiate treatment within 30 days after pathological diagnosis. Secondary outcomes include cumulative treatment initiation rates within 60, 90, and 180 days. Follow-up duration is not reported.
Safety outcomes, including adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability, are not reported in this protocol. Limitations, funding, conflicts of interest, and practice relevance are also not reported.
Because this is a protocol, no effect estimates are available. The planned trial addresses a gap in rural cancer care delivery, but clinicians should await completed results before drawing conclusions about the intervention's impact on timely treatment initiation.
How this fits prior evidence
This protocol addresses a gap not covered by prior evidence summaries, which have focused on diagnostic accuracy, treatment-related quality of life, surgical technique, and supportive care in gastric cancer. Prior coverage included AI tongue image analysis for gastric cancer screening, trastuzumab and tislelizumab for health-related quality of life, robotic versus laparoscopic gastrectomy, thymosin alpha1 plus chemotherapy, and electrical acupoint stimulation for postoperative recovery. None of these evaluated a MOL-led management intervention to improve timely treatment initiation in rural China. This planned trial extends the evidence base toward care delivery and access outcomes, but no results are yet available.
Researchers are planning a study to see if a new management approach can help patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer, such as esophageal and gastric cancer. The study will take place in rural China and involve at least 372 patients between the ages of 18 and 80.
The planned intervention involves a program called MOL. This program combines face-to-face consultations with health education delivered through the WeChat app. The main goal is to increase the number of patients who begin their medical treatment within 30 days of receiving their diagnosis.
It is important to note that this is a protocol for a planned trial. This means the study has not been completed yet and no results are available. Because no data has been collected, the safety and effectiveness of the MOL program cannot be confirmed at this time. This study is designed to see if digital tools and personal consultations can improve the speed of care for cancer patients.
What this means for you:
This is a planned study to see if digital and face-to-face tools help cancer patients start treatment sooner.
Common questions
What is the goal of the MOL intervention?
The goal of the MOL intervention is to improve the 30-day timely treatment rate. This means the researchers want to see if the combination of WeChat-based health education and face-to-face consultations helps patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer start their treatment within 30 days of their diagnosis.
Who is included in this study?
The study is designed for patients aged 18 to 80 who have a confirmed diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal cancer, specifically esophageal or gastric cancer. The study will take place in 16 secondary hospitals in the Shandong province of rural China.
Are there any results from this study yet?
No results are available yet because this is a protocol for a planned trial. The study has not been completed, so the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of the intervention have not been reported. You should speak with your doctor regarding current treatment options.
INTRODUCTION: Upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGC), including oesophageal and gastric cancers, imposes a substantial health burden, particularly in China. Timely treatment after a positive screening result is critical, as treatment delays may contribute to disease progression and poorer outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a management model led by medical opinion leaders (MOLs) in shortening the time to treatment initiation among screen-positive patients with UGC.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This multicentre, cluster randomised controlled trial will be conducted at 16 secondary hospitals in Shandong province, China. The participating hospitals will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control group in a 1:1 ratio. Screen-positive patients aged 18-80 years whose UGC diagnosis is confirmed by endoscopy and pathological examination will be recruited. At least 372 participants will be enrolled. The intervention group will receive an MOL-led management intervention comprising WeChat-based health education and face-to-face consultations. The primary outcome is the 30-day timely treatment rate, defined as the proportion of participants who initiate treatment within 30 days after pathological diagnosis. Secondary outcomes are the cumulative treatment initiation rates within 60, 90 and 180 days. Baseline information will be collected at enrolment, and treatment status will be assessed at 30, 60, 90 and 180 days.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Science and Technology Ethics Committee of the School of Public Health, Shandong University (No. STEC-SPH-SDU-20250703). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The study findings will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at national and international academic conferences and communication with participating medical institutions and study participants.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2500109389.
