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

Abstract

Context: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex chronic autoimmune condition representing a source of disability. It can create a burden of the low Quality of life in pregnant women 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) was used. Purposive sampling was used to recruit fifty pregnant women diagnosed with SLE. The study was 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 data collection tools were utilized in this study, and Arabic self-care guidelines were distributed as supporting educational material for pregnant women with SLE.

Results: Findings of the present study showed a highly significant improvement in SLE activity index, follow-up lab investigations, Quality of life, and health assessment by evaluating daily living activities after using self-care guidelines.
Conclusion: The current study results supported the research hypothesis that pregnant women with SLE exposed to self-care guidelines will have a better quality of life than 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.