A smartphone-based supportive counseling on health anxiety and acceptance of disability in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a supportive counseling via the smart phone on the health anxiety, and acceptance of disability in the patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Methods: The present study was a randomized clinical trial with pre-post design. Randomly dividing 124 patients into experimental and control groups. Before and after the intervention, all patients answered the health anxiety and disability acceptance questionnaires. For eight weeks, the trial group received remote counseling help using the WhatsApp platform.

Results: All 124 patients randomized into groups, completed follow-up which were analyzed. By the end of 8th week, the level of health anxiety (MD=11.34, P < 0.001) of the experiment group was significantly lower than the control group, while the level of acceptance of disability (MD=91.42, P < 0.001) of experiment group was significantly higher than the control group.

Conclusion: Smartphone-based supportive counseling may help people with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus manage their symptoms better, and live better by reducing health worry and increasing acceptance of impairment.

Practice implications: Virtual supportive counseling can assist healthcare professionals to optimize the potential of education and support processes.

Keywords: Acceptance process; Anxiety; Counseling; Health; Lupus erythematosus; Social media; Supporting information; Systemic.