Effects of physical activity counselling in women with systemic lupus erythematosus: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background Low physical activity is common in systemic lupus erythematosus populations. Aim To evaluate the effect of physical activity counselling on physical activity and the association between physical activity changes and changes in fatigue, quality of sleep, and quality of life in women with systemic lupus erythematosus. Methods A randomized, controlled, single‐blind trial was conducted from March 2015 to August 2016. Seventy‐six women with systemic lupus erythematosus were randomly assigned to the intervention or control groups. The intervention group received three sessions of physical activity counselling at 1, 4, and 8 weeks and three telephone follow‐ups over 13 weeks. Outcome measures, which include daily steps, fatigue, quality of sleep, and the quality of life, were collected at baseline and 8 and 12 weeks. Results The study showed that daily steps, quality of sleep, and vitality in the intervention group were significantly improved compared with those in the control group at weeks 8 and 12. Mental health was significantly improved only at week 8 in the counselling group. A positive correlation between physical activity changes and changes in vitality and mental health was observed. Conclusions Physical activity counselling can improve physical activity. As physical activity increases, systemic lupus erythematosus women feel more energetic and happier.

Systematic review of digital and non-digital non-pharmacological interventions that target quality of life and psychological outcomes in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus

“…22,26,28–35,37,40 Eight of the studies (35%) were of physical activity interventions. 20,23–25,27,36,41,42 Two of the studies (9%) were of diet-based interventions. 21,38 One study (4%) was a self-management course for SLE.…”

“…The remotely delivered physical activity interventions (n = 4), 20,24,36,42 psychological interventions (n = 4) 22,32,33,42 or diet-based interventions (n = 2) 21,38 showed significant improvement in QOL or psychological outcomes. One study that tested a physical activity intervention, delivered in the participants’ home with minimal supervision through weekly telephone monitoring and support, showed improvements in psychological outcomes, but the improvements were not statistically significant.…”

“…Studies demonstrated that diet, physical activity, and psychological interventions may benefit patients with SLE in improving QOL. Of the 15 studies that assessed for changes in QOL, 13 showed significant improvement over time in QOL: two diet-based interventions, 21,38 four psychological interventions, 26,34,35,40 six physical activity interventions, 20,23–25,41,42 and one self-management course. 39 One psychological intervention demonstrated improvement in QOL from baseline to end of intervention, but this change was not statistically significant.…”

“…45 Across the studies that used these measures, three studies showed significant improvement in all the subscales of QOL, 23,38,40 and five studies showed significant improvement in the majority of the subscales of QOL. 25,26,32,34,35 The most common QOL subscales that showed improvement as attributed to the intervention were: emotional health or well-being, 21 mental health or status, 24,32,34,35,42 energy/fatigue and vitality, 21,25,34,41,42 and couples communication. 32…”

“…The majority of studies (n = 20) assessed for changes in psychological outcomes. Studies found significant improvement over time in depression, 23,25,26,34,39 anxiety, 26,31,34 stress-related coping skills, 26,39 self-efficacy, 22,30,32,39 perceptions of body image, 31 quality of sleep, 42 affect, 22 and overall psychological well-being (i.e., psychological symptoms, psychological distress, psychological status, psychological dysfunction). 30,33,37,40 Perceptions of helplessness 27 and psychological status 33 were outcomes that demonstrated improvement over time but were not found to be statistically significant.…”