The effects of WeChat-based educational intervention in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a randomized controlled trail.BACKGROUND
 This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the WeChat-based educational intervention on depression, health-related QoL, and other clinical outcomes in AS patients.


 Patients were recruited and randomized into the intervention group which received a 12-week WeChat-based educational intervention (consisting of four individual online educational sessions, online educational materials) or the control group receiving standard care.  This study found that the 12-week educational intervention via WeChat had positive effects on reducing depressive symptoms and improving health-related QoL in Chinese patients with AS. 
WeChat
Outcomes were measured by Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient Global Score (BAS-G), and visual analog scales.



Beck Depression Inventory-II
Outcomes were measured by Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient Global Score (BAS-G), and visual analog scales.



Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36)
Outcomes were measured by Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient Global Score (BAS-G), and visual analog scales.



Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)
Outcomes were measured by Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient Global Score (BAS-G), and visual analog scales.



Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient Global Score (BAS-G)