Effectiveness of a WhatsApp Reminder Based on Continuity of Nursing Care to Improve Quality of Life among Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26911/thejhpm.2026.11.03.06Abstract
Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health problem with high incidence and mortality, while adherence to first-line anti-tuberculosis drug (OAT) therapy remains low, risking treatment failure, relapse, and drug resistance. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of a WhatsApp reminder based on Continuity of Nursing Care (CoNC) on quality of life among pulmonary TB patients at Pringsewu Community Health Center, Lampung, Indonesia.
Subjects and Method: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest non-equivalent control group design at the Pringsewu community health center, Lampung, from February 16 to March 14, 2026. From a source population of 150 registered TB patients on OAT treatment, 52 patients meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria were selected by purposive sampling and non-randomly allocated to an intervention group (n=26), receiving a WhatsApp reminder based on CoNC for 2–4 weeks with two-way communication, and a control group (n=26), receiving a medication reminder card. Quality of life and health status were measured as continuous variables using the EQ-5D-5L index and EQ-VAS. Between-group differences in change scores (Δ) were assessed using the Mann–Whitney U test.
Results: Quality of life and health status improved significantly in the intervention group after the intervention (p<0.001), while no significant pre–post differences occurred in the control group (p=0.317 and p=0.180, respectively). The improvement (Δ) was significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The WhatsApp reminder based on continuity of nursing care effectively improves quality of life and health status among pulmonary TB patients and is recommended as a technology-based strategy in TB control programs at primary healthcare settings.
Keywords:
pulmonary tuberculosis, WhatsApp reminder, continuity of nursing care, quality of lifeHow to Cite
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