Effect of Telenursing Instructions on Improvement of Awareness among Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus is the most common type of lupus and an autoimmune
disease in which the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissues so, awareness
about this disease reduces complications and improves patient's outcome. Aim: The aim of the study
was to evaluate the effect of tele nursing instructions on awareness of systemic lupus erythematosus
patients. Subjects and Method: Design: A quasi-experimental research design was used. Setting: The
study was conducted at the medicine and rheumatology outpatient clinics in Bab El Shaeria University
Hospital, affiliated to El-Azhar University, Cairo Governorate Egypt. Subjects: A purposive sample
was used including 90 patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus. Tools of data
collection: Three tools were used; Tool 1: A structured designed interview covering two parts: Part 1:
Demographic characteristics of studied patients Part 2: Knowledge of studied patients about systemic
lupus erythematosus. Tool 2: Attitude of studied patients regarding systemic lupus erythematosus.
Tool 3: Reported practices of studied patients regarding systemic lupus erythematosus. Results: The
current study showed that 67.3%of studied sample had poor knowledge, 61.7% of them had negative
attitudeand58.4% of them had inadequate reported practices about systemic lupus erythematosus
before conducting the telenursing instructions. However, highly statistically significant improvements
were detected after the implementation of the telenursing instructions in good knowledge (88.2%),
positive attitudes (82.7%) and adequate reported practices (85.6%). There was a positive statistically
significant correlation between total knowledge scores and total reported practice scores. Also, there
was a positive statistically significant correlation between total knowledge scores and total attitude
scores of studied patients. Conclusion: Telenursing instructions improved patients' knowledge,
attitudes, and practices at the posttest than pretest, with highly statistically significant differences. As
well, an increase in awareness about systemic lupus erythematosus was achieved. Recommendation:
Simple educational pamphlets and posters about systemic lupus erythematosus should be provided for
all patients in their outpatient clinics