01-08-2008 | Uitgave 6/2008
Persistence of unmet need for care among people with systemic lupus erythematosus: a longitudinal study
- Tijdschrift:
- Quality of Life Research > Uitgave 6/2008
Belangrijke opmerkingen
This study was conducted with ethics approval from the University of Newcastle Hunter Research Ethics Committee (HREC: H6820499) and the Hunter Area Health Service–Hunter Area Human Ethics Committee (HAHREC: 9904213.17), and was performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki.
Abstract
Purpose
The extent and variability of unmet care needs over time of people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has not been previously reported. A prospective study was undertaken to determine the variability over time of such needs.
Method
A 97-item SLE needs questionnaire (SLENQ) was completed on two occasions 6 months apart by 233 members of a lupus support association. Levels of unmet need for each individual, and a mean symptom score were calculated.
Results
Overall level of unmet need increased, decreased or stayed the same for 18%, 37%, and 45% of participants respectively. Ninety-four percent of participants at time 1 and 95% of participants at time 2 reported an unmet need for care for at least one item. The prevalence of unmet need for care remained the same for 82 of the 97 items. The mean unmet need score declined significantly between time 1 (0.78) and time 2 (0.69). The mean unmet need scores were significantly correlated with mean symptom score.
Conclusions
The results of the study suggest an unacceptable persistence of care needs not being met. There is an ongoing need to identify mechanisms to enhance care delivery so that the care needs of people with SLE are more effectively addressed.