This protocol describes a single-blind, two-arm randomised controlled trial of 110 stroke survivor-family caregiver dyads that will test whether a nurse-led, WeChat-delivered dyadic behavioural intervention improves sodium intake reduction knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) in stroke survivors with hypertension; no efficacy results are reported.
The paper is a trial protocol for a single-blind, two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial and reports no outcome data.
The intervention group will receive a nurse-led, instant message-delivered dyadic behavioural intervention on sodium reduction over 2 months.
The control group will receive a minimal-contact attention condition consisting of stroke education only.
The primary outcome is stroke survivors' sodium intake reduction KAP immediately post-intervention (T1).
Secondary outcomes cover both stroke survivors and family caregivers at T1 and T2 (2-month follow-up).
Data will be analysed by intention-to-treat using generalised estimating equations adjusting for covariates.
Stakeholders were involved in developing the intervention.
The authors anticipate the study will offer a replicable, scalable mobile health model for nurse-led secondary stroke prevention targeting sodium intake.
This paper describes the plan for a clinical trial that has not yet reported results. The researchers will test whether nurses can help people who have had a stroke and also have high blood pressure to eat less salt, by involving a family caregiver and using the messaging app WeChat. A total of 110 pairs of stroke survivors and caregivers will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will get 60 short messages over two months on reducing salt, with practical tips, plus the chance to chat with a nurse in real time. The comparison group will get only 10 short messages about stroke in general. Researchers will measure the survivors' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours about cutting salt right after the program and again two months later. They will also look at blood pressure, confidence, quality of life, the relationship between survivor and caregiver, and caregiver burden. Because this is a protocol, it cannot say whether the approach works. The authors hope that, if it does, it could offer a low-cost, widely accessible model for nurse-led stroke prevention in China and similar settings, where salt intake is a major dietary risk for stroke. This research suggests only a plan for testing that idea.
Yan Y, Wang M, Lau K, Chen H, Yang Y, Yang Z, et al.. (2026). Nurse-Led Instant Message-Delivered Dyadic Intervention in Sodium Intake Reduction Knowledge, Attitude and Practice in Hypertensive Stroke Survivors: Randomised Controlled Trial Protocol.. Nursing open. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.70973