Awareness of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus toward Prevention of COVID-19

Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect any organ in the body, and those affected are at risk of COVID-19 due to underlying immune conditions and immunosuppressive medications. Aim : Assess awareness of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus toward prevention of COVID-19. Study Design: A descriptive exploratory design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: The study was conducted at Rheumatology outpatient clinic at Desouk General Hospital which affiliated to Ministry of Health in Kafr El Sheikh Governorate. Sample : Simple random sample composed of 220 patients, were selected according to age from 15-60 which already have been diagnosed with SLE. Tool of date collection: A structured interviewing questionnaire that consisted of five parts, socio demographic characteristics, clinical history of patients, knowledge, Reported practices, and attitudes of patients about Systemic Lupus Erythematosus toward preventive measures of COVID-19. Results : The study results proved that 76.8% of study sample were female and 43.2% of sample's age ranged from. 30 to less than 45 years with mean = 37.2 & S. D ±10.9years, 31.8% of them had infected with COVID-19. According to Knowledge, 37.7% of them had a poor level of total knowledge about COVID-19 and 69.1% about Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. While 3.2% had negative attitude and 62.3% had inadequate reported practices towards COVID-19 prevention. Conclusion: there was a highly statistically significant relation between total knowledge, reported practices, and attitude toward preventive measures of COVID-19 and socio-demographic characteristics of patients with systemic lupus such as age, gender, educational level, and marital status with p value ˂ 0. 001. Recommendations: Design a health education program about prevention of COVID-19 for patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and disseminating it in autoimmune diseases clinics .