The Outcomes of an e-Wellness Program for Lupus Patients in Thailand: A Participatory Action Research Approach
Objectives Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or lupus patients usually experience various physical and psychological challenges. Since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, these challenges have become even harsher. Using the participatory action research approach, this study evaluated how an e-we...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Korean Society for Preventive Medicine
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://jpmph.org/upload/pdf/jpmph-22-491.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797845612763283456 |
|---|---|
| author | Nop T. Ratanasiripong Steven Cahill Christine Crane Paul Ratanasiripong |
| author_facet | Nop T. Ratanasiripong Steven Cahill Christine Crane Paul Ratanasiripong |
| author_sort | Nop T. Ratanasiripong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or lupus patients usually experience various physical and psychological challenges. Since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, these challenges have become even harsher. Using the participatory action research approach, this study evaluated how an e-wellness program (eWP) impacted SLE-related knowledge and health behaviors, mental health, and quality of life among lupus patients in Thailand. Methods A 1-group, pretest-posttest design study was conducted among a purposive sample of lupus patients who were members of Thai SLE Foundation. The 2 main intervention components were: (1) online social support, and (2) lifestyle and stress management workshops. Sixty-eight participants completed all the study requirements, including the Physical and Psychosocial Health Assessment questionnaire. Results After being in the eWP for 3 months, participants’ mean score for SLE-related knowledge increased significantly (t=5.3, p< 0.001). The increase in sleep hours was statistically significant (Z=−3.1, p<0.01), with the percentage of participants who slept less than 7 hours decreasing from 52.9% to 29.0%. The percentage of participants reporting sun exposure decreased from 17.7% to 8.8%. The participants also reported significantly lower stress (t(66)= −4.4, p<0.001) and anxiety (t(67)= −2.9, p=0.005). The post-eWP quality of life scores for the pain, planning, intimate relationship, burden to others, emotional health, and fatigue domains also improved significantly (p<0.05). Conclusions The overall outcomes showed promising results of improved self-care knowledge, health behaviors, mental health status, and quality of life. It is recommended that the SLE Foundation continues to use the eWP model to help the lupus patient community. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:41:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ecd9dd146984455b7dc8b2be4e17d22 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1975-8375 2233-4521 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:41:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Korean Society for Preventive Medicine |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ecd9dd146984455b7dc8b2be4e17d222023-04-17T04:20:31ZengKorean Society for Preventive MedicineJournal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health1975-83752233-45212023-03-0156215416310.3961/jpmph.22.4912272The Outcomes of an e-Wellness Program for Lupus Patients in Thailand: A Participatory Action Research ApproachNop T. Ratanasiripong0Steven Cahill1Christine Crane2Paul Ratanasiripong3 School of Nursing, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, USA School of Nursing, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, USA School of Nursing, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, USA College of Education, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USAObjectives Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or lupus patients usually experience various physical and psychological challenges. Since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, these challenges have become even harsher. Using the participatory action research approach, this study evaluated how an e-wellness program (eWP) impacted SLE-related knowledge and health behaviors, mental health, and quality of life among lupus patients in Thailand. Methods A 1-group, pretest-posttest design study was conducted among a purposive sample of lupus patients who were members of Thai SLE Foundation. The 2 main intervention components were: (1) online social support, and (2) lifestyle and stress management workshops. Sixty-eight participants completed all the study requirements, including the Physical and Psychosocial Health Assessment questionnaire. Results After being in the eWP for 3 months, participants’ mean score for SLE-related knowledge increased significantly (t=5.3, p< 0.001). The increase in sleep hours was statistically significant (Z=−3.1, p<0.01), with the percentage of participants who slept less than 7 hours decreasing from 52.9% to 29.0%. The percentage of participants reporting sun exposure decreased from 17.7% to 8.8%. The participants also reported significantly lower stress (t(66)= −4.4, p<0.001) and anxiety (t(67)= −2.9, p=0.005). The post-eWP quality of life scores for the pain, planning, intimate relationship, burden to others, emotional health, and fatigue domains also improved significantly (p<0.05). Conclusions The overall outcomes showed promising results of improved self-care knowledge, health behaviors, mental health status, and quality of life. It is recommended that the SLE Foundation continues to use the eWP model to help the lupus patient community.http://jpmph.org/upload/pdf/jpmph-22-491.pdfsystemic lupus erythematosusinterventionknowledgemental healthqualify of life |
| spellingShingle | Nop T. Ratanasiripong Steven Cahill Christine Crane Paul Ratanasiripong The Outcomes of an e-Wellness Program for Lupus Patients in Thailand: A Participatory Action Research Approach Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health systemic lupus erythematosus intervention knowledge mental health qualify of life |
| title | The Outcomes of an e-Wellness Program for Lupus Patients in Thailand: A Participatory Action Research Approach |
| title_full | The Outcomes of an e-Wellness Program for Lupus Patients in Thailand: A Participatory Action Research Approach |
| title_fullStr | The Outcomes of an e-Wellness Program for Lupus Patients in Thailand: A Participatory Action Research Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Outcomes of an e-Wellness Program for Lupus Patients in Thailand: A Participatory Action Research Approach |
| title_short | The Outcomes of an e-Wellness Program for Lupus Patients in Thailand: A Participatory Action Research Approach |
| title_sort | outcomes of an e wellness program for lupus patients in thailand a participatory action research approach |
| topic | systemic lupus erythematosus intervention knowledge mental health qualify of life |
| url | http://jpmph.org/upload/pdf/jpmph-22-491.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT noptratanasiripong theoutcomesofanewellnessprogramforlupuspatientsinthailandaparticipatoryactionresearchapproach AT stevencahill theoutcomesofanewellnessprogramforlupuspatientsinthailandaparticipatoryactionresearchapproach AT christinecrane theoutcomesofanewellnessprogramforlupuspatientsinthailandaparticipatoryactionresearchapproach AT paulratanasiripong theoutcomesofanewellnessprogramforlupuspatientsinthailandaparticipatoryactionresearchapproach AT noptratanasiripong outcomesofanewellnessprogramforlupuspatientsinthailandaparticipatoryactionresearchapproach AT stevencahill outcomesofanewellnessprogramforlupuspatientsinthailandaparticipatoryactionresearchapproach AT christinecrane outcomesofanewellnessprogramforlupuspatientsinthailandaparticipatoryactionresearchapproach AT paulratanasiripong outcomesofanewellnessprogramforlupuspatientsinthailandaparticipatoryactionresearchapproach |