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Goldschen L, Peng CS, Mufson MJ, Feldman CH, Case SM, Costenbader KH, Amonoo HL. Barriers, Facilitators, and Preferences for Mental Health Services Among Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Qualitative Study. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2024; 76:914-925. [PMID: 38433607 PMCID: PMC11209808 DOI: 10.1002/acr.25321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience high levels of depression and anxiety disorders, evidence concerning patient perceptions of facilitators and barriers to effective uptake of mental health services (eg, referral to therapists and psychiatrists, psychoeducational interventions, or support groups) is limited. METHODS We conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 15 adults with SLE to explore patient experiences and perceptions of mental health services to identify facilitators and barriers to accessing mental health care among patients with SLE. Qualitative interviews were conducted via telephone and audio recorded for transcription and directed content analysis using NVivo software by two coders. RESULTS The median age of the 15 participants was 48 years, 87% were female, 33% identified as Black or African American, and 33% identified as Hispanic or Latino. Qualitative themes were organized into three domains: barriers, facilitators, and preferences for mental health services. Barriers to the use of mental health services include mental health stigma, sociodemographic factors, lack of autonomy, and time commitment. Facilitators to the use of mental health services included strong relationships with their rheumatologists and mental health care clinician experience with patients with SLE. Preferences for mental health services included education-based formats, mental health providers who work with patients with SLE, peer group formats, demographically and disease-matched psychological resources, and an emphasis on non-disease-related activities. CONCLUSION In the setting of persistent unmet psychosocial needs of patients living with SLE, data from this qualitative study will inform the development and refinement of mental health interventions that bolster psychological wellbeing in the SLE population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Goldschen
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cynthia S. Peng
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael J. Mufson
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Candace H. Feldman
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Siobhan M. Case
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karen H. Costenbader
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hermioni L. Amonoo
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Wanberg LJ, Pearson DR. Evaluating the Disease-Related Experiences of TikTok Users With Lupus Erythematosus: Qualitative and Content Analysis. JMIR INFODEMIOLOGY 2024; 4:e51211. [PMID: 38631030 PMCID: PMC11063877 DOI: 10.2196/51211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lupus erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune condition that is associated with significant detriments to quality of life and daily functioning. TikTok, a popular social networking platform for sharing short videos, provides a unique opportunity to understand experiences with LE within a nonclinical sample, a population that is understudied in LE research. This is the first qualitative study that explores LE experiences using the TikTok platform. OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the disease-related experiences of TikTok users with LE using qualitative and content analysis. METHODS TikTok videos were included if the hashtags included #lupus, were downloadable, were in English, and involved the personal experience of an individual with LE. A codebook was developed using a standardized inductive approach of iterative coding until saturation was reached. NVivo (Lumivero), a qualitative analysis software platform, was used to code videos and perform content analysis. Inductive thematic analysis was used to derive themes from the data. RESULTS A total of 153 TikTok videos met the inclusion criteria. The most common codes were experiences with symptoms (106/153, 69.3%), mucocutaneous symptoms (61/153, 39.9%), and experiences with treatment (59/153, 38.6%). Experiences with symptoms and mucocutaneous symptoms had the greatest cumulative views (25,381,074 and 14,879,109 views, respectively). Five thematic conclusions were derived from the data: (1) mucocutaneous symptoms had profound effects on the mental health and body image of TikTok users with LE; (2) TikTok users' negative experiences with health care workers were often derived from diagnostic delays and perceptions of "medical gaslighting"; (3) TikTok users tended to portray pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions, such as diet and naturopathic remedies, positively, whereas pharmacologic treatments were portrayed negatively or referred to as "chemotherapy"; (4) LE symptoms, particularly musculoskeletal symptoms and fatigue, interfered with users' daily functioning; and (5) although TikTok users frequently had strong support systems, feelings of isolation were often attributed to battling an "invisible illness." CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that social media can provide important, clinically relevant information for health practitioners caring for patients with chronic conditions such as LE. As mucocutaneous symptoms were the predominant drivers of distress in our sample, the treatment of hair loss and rash is vital in this population. However, pharmacologic therapies were often depicted negatively, reinforcing the significance of discussions on the safety and effectiveness of these treatments. In addition, while TikTok users demonstrated robust support systems, feelings of having an "invisible illness" and "medical gaslighting" dominated negative interactions with others. This underscores the importance of providing validation in clinical interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey J Wanberg
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - David R Pearson
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Dermatology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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Cardwell FS, Elliott SJ, Barber MRW, Cheema K, George S, Boucher A, Clarke AE. Canadian patient experiences of lupus nephritis: a qualitative analysis. Lupus Sci Med 2023; 10:e000982. [PMID: 38087643 PMCID: PMC10729228 DOI: 10.1136/lupus-2023-000982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most severe manifestations of SLE; however, we know little about the lived experience of LN. This research investigates patient experiences and perspectives of (1) LN diagnosis; (2) living with LN; and (3) LN healthcare and treatment. METHODS Patients aged ≥18 years with biopsy-proven pure or mixed International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society class III, IV or V LN were purposefully recruited from a Canadian lupus cohort to participate in semistructured in-depth interviews. RESULTS Thirty patients with LN completed the interviews. The mean (SD) age was 42.1 (16.4) years, and 86.7% were female. Participants described challenges seeking, receiving and adjusting to a LN diagnosis, and some reported that their diagnosis process took weeks to years. While 16 participants were provided resources by healthcare providers to help them through the process of diagnosis, the need for accessible LN-specific information at diagnosis was highlighted (n=18). Participants also described the unpredictability of living with LN, particularly related to impacts on physical and mental health, relationships, leisure activities, employment and education, and family planning. While most (n=26) participants reported a positive impression of their care, the side effects of LN medications and the need to increase patient and societal awareness/understanding of LN were highlighted in the context of healthcare and treatment. CONCLUSIONS The unpredictability of living with LN, the heavy treatment burden and a lack of patient/societal awareness substantially affect the lived experience of LN. These findings will inform the development of LN-specific patient resources to increase understanding of LN and improve well-being for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca S Cardwell
- Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susan J Elliott
- Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Megan R W Barber
- Division of Rheumatology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kim Cheema
- Division of Nephrology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sydney George
- Health Outcomes and Economics, GSK, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adrian Boucher
- Health Outcomes and Economics, GSK, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ann Elaine Clarke
- Division of Rheumatology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Lee S, Rodman J, Hsu V, Wise L. Beliefs, Experiences, and Openness Regarding Dietary Interventions: Data From an Urban Hispanic Population With Rheumatic Disease in the US. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2023; 75:2207-2214. [PMID: 37038969 DOI: 10.1002/acr.25128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To obtain descriptive data on the beliefs, behaviors, and openness regarding dietary changes for rheumatic diseases in an urban US Hispanic patient population with rheumatic disease as foundational data for future intervention design. METHODS We distributed a voluntary survey to our primarily Hispanic population at an outpatient rheumatology clinic for 19 weeks. This survey queried individuals' behaviors as they related to dietary intake used for the treatment of rheumatic disease, perceptions of the effect of food groups on rheumatic disease activity, barriers to physician-recommended diets, and willingness to try future interventions. We used descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square test to evaluate associations. RESULTS More than 40% of survey respondents from our primarily (88%) Hispanic population noted a link between what they ate and their underlying rheumatic disease activity. More than one-third of patients had, at some point, modified dietary intake to affect their rheumatic disease. Vegetables, fruit, and white meats were commonly reported to improve disease, while red meat and processed foods were reported to worsen disease. Barriers to following a prespecified diet included cost and lack of knowledge. More than 70% of respondents indicated willingness to attempt certain eating patterns should it help their underlying rheumatic disease. CONCLUSION In this primarily Hispanic rheumatic disease patient population, many have not only noted a correlation between dietary intake and rheumatic disease activity but are also open to future nutrition-related interventions. As this population experiences poor rheumatic disease outcomes and a high rate of lifestyle-related comorbidities, an intervention to optimize healthy eating patterns would likely be beneficial as well as acceptable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandy Lee
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Jack Rodman
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Vera Hsu
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Leanna Wise
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles
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Zinglersen AH, Drange IL, Myhr KA, Fuchs A, Pfeiffer-Jensen M, Brock C, Jacobsen S. Vagus nerve stimulation as a novel treatment for systemic lupus erythematous: study protocol for a randomised, parallel-group, sham-controlled investigator-initiated clinical trial, the SLE-VNS study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e064552. [PMID: 36127117 PMCID: PMC9490576 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease. SLE is treated with immunosuppressants with suboptimal efficacy and high risk of serious side effects. Patients with SLE have increased risk of mortality, organ damage and debilitating treatment-resistant fatigue. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction (AD) is present in approximately half of the patients and may promote autoimmunity by weakening the vagally mediated anti-inflammatory reflex. Recent studies suggest that transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) has few side effects and beneficial effects on fatigue, pain, disease activity and organ function. This study investigates whether adjuvant tVNS improves measures of fatigue (primary end point), AD, clinical disease activity, inflammation, pain, organ function and quality of life.Hence, this study will contribute to the understanding of AD as a potentially important precursor of fatigue, disease activity, progression and complications in SLE, and how tVNS mechanistically may attenuate this. As adjuvant tVNS use may reduce the need for traditional immunosuppressive therapy, this trial may prompt a shift in the treatment of SLE and potentially other autoimmune disorders. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Eighty-four patients with SLE with fatigue and AD will be randomised 1:1 to active or sham tVNS in this double-blinded parallel-group study. In period 1 (1 week), participants will receive a 4 min tVNS 4 times daily and report on fatigue daily. After a 2-week pause, period 2 (8 weeks) will entail tVNS twice daily and participants will report on fatigue, pain and disease activity weekly. Secondary end points will be assessed before and after each period and after 1 week in period 2. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study is approved by the Danish Medical Research Ethical Committees (case no: 2120231) and results will be published in international peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT05315739.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Hempel Zinglersen
- Copenhagen Research Center for Autoimmune Connective Tissue Diseases (COPEACT), Department of Rheumatology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Lynghøj Drange
- Copenhagen Research Center for Autoimmune Connective Tissue Diseases (COPEACT), Department of Rheumatology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katrine Aagaard Myhr
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas Fuchs
- Department of Cardiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mogens Pfeiffer-Jensen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Department of Rheumatology, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Christina Brock
- Mech-Sense, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Søren Jacobsen
- Copenhagen Research Center for Autoimmune Connective Tissue Diseases (COPEACT), Department of Rheumatology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
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