SOCIAL_HF: Improving Social Frailty Through Interactive Learning
The Effects of "Social Optimization Chat for Interactive Learning for Heart Failure" (SOCIAL_HF) on Improving Social Frailty: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The University of Hong Kong
208 participants
Sep 15, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether the WeChat-based program "Social Optimization Chat for Interactive Learning for Heart Failure" (SOCIAL\_HF) can improve social frailty in elderly patients with heart failure. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can a 6-week WeChat online group interactive learning program (SOCIAL\_HF) improve social frailty? Does the intervention enhance self-care abilities, social participation, and perceived social support? Researchers will compare SOCIAL\_HF to usual care (self-study heart failure self-care manual) to assess whether SOCIAL\_HF can improve social functioning. Participants will: Engage in weekly WeChat video meetings for six weeks (Participate in peer sharing and collaborative tasks). Complete daily health task check-ins. Access online self-care resources.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria6
- years old and above;
- Live in the community;
- a definitive diagnosis of heart failure based on the Framingham Heart Failure Diagnostic Criteria;
- a diagnosis of heart failure for 6 months or longer;
- evidence of social pre-frailty or frailty, determined by the SFS-8 score ≥ 2; (6) possession of a smartphone and experience using WeChat;
- (7) be able to read and write Chinese.
Exclusion Criteria5
- severe cognitive impairment or dementia;
- known mental illnesses;
- any communication barriers may hinder participation in SOCIAL\_HF, such as illiteracy, reading disabilities, speak local dialect only, and difficulties in language comprehension;
- any sensory impairments that may affect learning or interaction with others on WeChat, including untreated severe hearing loss and vision impairments；
- are currently participating in other intervention studies.
Interventions
Participants will engage in a 6-week, WeChat-based group learning program called SOCIAL\_HF, focused on heart failure self-care. This program comprises two key components: structured real-time interactive learning and ongoing synchronous support. Real-time interactive learning will be conducted through WeChat video group meetings weekly, featuring peer sharing, problem-solving collaborative tasks, health goal setting, progress sharing, and the establishment of group contracts. Daily synchronous chat interactions will revolve around completing group contract tasks, weekly quizzes, and daily sharing. Additionally, participants will have access to an online self-care resource hub on the WeChat platform for reference and use.
The control group will establish a WeChat connection with PI and receive standard care, which includes a health education manual. However, they will not participate in group learning or discussions. They can consult with research assistants via WeChat for any questions they may have, but the researchers will only provide explanations related to the health education manual and will not offer additional educational resources or group interactions.
Locations(3)
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NCT07234565