title: Effects of a self-management course for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For people living with systemic lupus erythematosus, the disease's potential variety and severity of manifestations and unpredictable course present challenges and repercussions in all arenas of life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A quasi-experimental study was conducted to examine the effects of a systemic lupus erythematosus self-management course for Korean patients on fatigue, coping skills, self-efficacy, depression, pain and disease activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a two-group pre- and post-test design, a total of 41 participants were assigned to the experimental group (21 participants) and to the control group (20 participants). The experimental group received six weekly 2-hour sessions for groups of 10-15 literate adults of all ages, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Outcome measures included fatigue, coping skills, self-efficacy, depression, pain and disease activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients who participated in the self-management course showed significant improvement in fatigue (P = 0.049), coping skills (P = 0.007), self-efficacy (P = 0.001), and depression (P = 0.025). There were no significant changes in pain and disease activity after the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The systemic lupus erythematosus self-management course had effects in reducing fatigue and depression and improving coping skills and self-efficacy. This course is potentially a good nursing intervention that can be offered in community settings.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea. sky@catholic.ac.kr
authors.forename: Kyeong Yae
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Sohng
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*