Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: WeChat is a major social media platform in China with over 1 billion active users. On 14 April 2017 we registered a subscription account from the WeChat official account platform to disseminate Cochrane evidence.
Method: we disseminated three Plain language summaries (PLSs) and one podcast a week, occasionally feature reviews and blogshots, but we prioritize featured reviews and reviews with more public attention according to statistics offered by Cochrane, as well as analysis of our WeChat audience. We designed the interface typographic style, including picture style, font size, font colour, layout distribution and introductory wording. We apply a freely accessed title-related picture for PLSs and a volunteer’s picture as a cover image for podcasts. Once we have disseminated a piece of Cochrane evidence, we share the link within our volunteer WeChat group and acknowledge the translator and editors. We share the link with WeChat target group members such as those in the evidence-based medicine working group and the students' group, as well as in the groups with clinicians and researchers. Many of the volunteers then send the link to WeChat 'Moment' with an introductory or an explanatory text to bring Cochrane evidence to the attention of larger audiences. We present the account QR code at academic meetings or activities to attract more attention and monitor people’s reading behaviour in order to improve evidence dissemination.
Results: up to 18 April 2019 we generated 258 WeChat posts with a cumulative number of 330,133 deliveries, 21,594 readers, and 2451 WeChat public subscription account followers. (See Table 1 and Figure 1.)
We list the top 10 most (see Table 2) and least (see Table 3) popular posts, by which we will consider adjusting the promotion strategy.
Plan for next steps: first, we plan to structure the existing posts according to Cochrane.org 'health topics', to provide WeChat followers easier access. We will contact more target groups to promote evidence dissemination according to the less well read posts. Second, we will start to establish a translation and dissemination network in China based on the organization of a working group via the WeChat platform, contacting and communicating with other academic organizations such as universities, institutions and hospitals to form and connect volunteer teams, by which we will achieve a multi-dimension dissemination structure in China.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: the WeChat public platform can provide convenient access to information for people in need, and bridge the gap between academic evidence dissemination and public reading.
Method: we disseminated three Plain language summaries (PLSs) and one podcast a week, occasionally feature reviews and blogshots, but we prioritize featured reviews and reviews with more public attention according to statistics offered by Cochrane, as well as analysis of our WeChat audience. We designed the interface typographic style, including picture style, font size, font colour, layout distribution and introductory wording. We apply a freely accessed title-related picture for PLSs and a volunteer’s picture as a cover image for podcasts. Once we have disseminated a piece of Cochrane evidence, we share the link within our volunteer WeChat group and acknowledge the translator and editors. We share the link with WeChat target group members such as those in the evidence-based medicine working group and the students' group, as well as in the groups with clinicians and researchers. Many of the volunteers then send the link to WeChat 'Moment' with an introductory or an explanatory text to bring Cochrane evidence to the attention of larger audiences. We present the account QR code at academic meetings or activities to attract more attention and monitor people’s reading behaviour in order to improve evidence dissemination.
Results: up to 18 April 2019 we generated 258 WeChat posts with a cumulative number of 330,133 deliveries, 21,594 readers, and 2451 WeChat public subscription account followers. (See Table 1 and Figure 1.)
We list the top 10 most (see Table 2) and least (see Table 3) popular posts, by which we will consider adjusting the promotion strategy.
Plan for next steps: first, we plan to structure the existing posts according to Cochrane.org 'health topics', to provide WeChat followers easier access. We will contact more target groups to promote evidence dissemination according to the less well read posts. Second, we will start to establish a translation and dissemination network in China based on the organization of a working group via the WeChat platform, contacting and communicating with other academic organizations such as universities, institutions and hospitals to form and connect volunteer teams, by which we will achieve a multi-dimension dissemination structure in China.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: the WeChat public platform can provide convenient access to information for people in need, and bridge the gap between academic evidence dissemination and public reading.