FACTORS RELATED TO HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG PERSONS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS IN WENZHOU, CHINA

Abstract

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of persons with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was compromised. Identifying factors related to their HRQOL is crucial for healthcare providers. This study aimed to describe HRQOL among persons with SLE and to investigate associations between SLE symptoms, depression, social support, and self-are with HRQOL among persons with SLE in Wenzhou, China. Ninety-two participants with SLE were recruited by a simple random sampling from the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Instruments included the demographic information questionnaire, the SLE Symptom Checklist (SSC), the Chinese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Chinese version of the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), the Chinese version of Lupus quality of life (LupusQol), and the Exercise of Self-Care Agency (ESCA). Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results showed that the overall mean score of health-related quality of life among persons with SLE was 62.80 (SD=19.49). There were positive association between self-care and social support with health-related quality of life (r = .370, p < .01; r = .407, p < .01, respectively). Depression and SLE symptoms had negative correlation with health-related quality of life (r = -.466, p < .01; r = -.436, p < .01, respectively).

The findings revealed that depression, SLE symptoms, self-care, and social support was related to HRQOL among persons with SLE. Nurses should develop intervention that focuses on controlling SLE symptoms, preventing depression, promoting SLE self-care and social support to improve quality of life in this population.

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