Effect of Self-Care Guideline on Quality of Life among Pregnant Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

ABSTRACT Context: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex chronic autoimmune condition that represents a source of disability. In pregnant women, it can create a burden of the low quality of life and cause deleterious effects on maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. Aim: The study aimed at evaluating the effect of self-care guidelines on the quality of life among pregnant women with SLE. Methods: A quasi-experimental study design (time series, one group only, and pre-post intervention assessments) used. Purposive sampling used to recruit fifty pregnant women diagnosed with SLE. The study conducted at three sites: Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic at Ain Shams University Hospital, Rheumatology Antenatal Outpatient Clinic, and Labor Unit at Ain Shams Maternity Hospital. Seven tools of data collection utilized in this study and Arabic self-care guidelines distributed as supporting educational material for the pregnant women with SLE. Results: Findings of the present study showed that there was a highly significant improvement on SLE activity index, follow- up lab investigations, quality of life, and health assessment through evaluation of daily living activities after using self-care guidelines. Conclusion: The results of the current study supported the research hypothesis that the pregnant women with SLE who exposed to self-care guidelines will have a better quality of life compared to their pre-intervention level, which reflected upon improving pregnancy outcomes. Based on the study results, the following recommendations are forwarded; application of the study intervention with the distribution of the clear Arabic self-care guidelines on a large scale in other sittings caring for pregnant women with SLE.