Quality of life among systemic lupus erythematosus female patients "an intervention study"

ABSTRACT

Systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] is one of chronic disabling diseases that commonly affects women in their child-bearing years. [1] To assess the impact of SLE on quality of life of diseased females, [2] To identify the most affected dimensions of patients QOL, [3] To study the relation between some socio-demographic and disease characteristics and the level of patients QO and [4] To estimate the effect of training and educational health program on the most affected dimensions of QOL of the studied patients. This is an intervention study on a sample of 50 SLE female patients who where regularly attending Ain Shams University, Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic and were assessed throughout one month period, [March 2006]. The study sample included all who concurred a specific criteria; being females, 15-49 years, with established diagnosis since at least two years and they were receiving a stable treatment for at least 4 months. Data about socio-demographic and disease characteristics were collected by direct interview to fill in a pre-designed questionnaire. Data about QOL was collected using Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2. A specific training and health educational program for the most affected dimensions of QOL was applied on a sub sample of 23 patients for 8 weeks. Pre-post intervention assessment of QOL dimensions were compared. The study showed that 40% of the sample had bad and very bad QOL level. There were no statistically significant associations between most of socio-demographic and disease characteristics and the QOL level, except for presence of large family number >5 and those who took out prescribed medications, which were found higher among bad and very bad QOL group. The most affected dimensions of QOL were in sequence, social activity, tension, pain, walking and bending, mood, and household tasks. Post intervention assessment of QOL dimensions revealed highly statistically significant improvement not only among the program dimensions but also among the majority [5 out of 7 of the remaining dimensions. SLE disease has a great impact on most of the domains of patients QOL. Adopting different educational and training programs addressing the affected dimensions of health can greatly improve patients QOL