Doaa Mohamed Sobhy Elsayed^1,, Soha Kamel Mesbah¹

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) disease and disease-related consequences as well as treatment-related adverse events have a significant negative effect on life expectancy and quality of life of SLE clients. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of health education based intervention on self-care among systemic lupus erythematosus clients. Design: A quasi experimental design was used. Setting: The study was conducted in Rheumatology Outpatients’ clinic of Benha Teaching Hospital. Sample: A Convenient sample of systemic lupus erythematosus clients was recruited. There were 60 clients. Tools: I- structured interviewing questionnaire to determine demographic characteristics of SLE clients, disease characteristics. II- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Assessment Tool to assess client's knowledge about SLE and clients’ practices about self-care. III- Lupus Patient Reported Outcomes (lupus PRO). Results: Showed that, the mean age of studied clients was 28.76±5.98, 90% were female, 40% had the disease from 1 to <5 years. 36.7% of them had a family history of SLE, 45% of studied clients had average total knowledge and 0% had good total knowledge scores regarding SLE disease, only18.3% had satisfactory total self-care reported practices score and 16.7% had moderate total Lupus PRO score pre intervention, while post intervention; good total knowledge scores increased to 95 % and average total knowledge decreased to 5%, satisfactory total self-care reported practices increased to 83.3% and moderate total Lupus PRO score increased to 65%. Conclusion: This study concluded that there were a significant improvement in studied clients' knowledge, self-care practices and Lupus PRO regarding SLE disease. Recommendations: Establishing patient education programs to improve SLE clients care by written instructions must be available in all rheumatology clinics. Replicate this study for large number of clients and in different settings.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), self-care, health education based intervention, SLE clients