Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune multisystem chronic disease where the body mistakenly fights itself with wide and variable clinical presentations that affect several organs in the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, and heart. The awareness of the clinical manifestation of SLE is necessary to prevent the delay in making a diagnosis. The present study aims to evaluate the level of awareness of SLE in pediatric patients in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated self-administered questionnaire distributed among parents via an online platform. Questionnaire data were tabulated and coded in MS Excel, and all statistical analyses were carried out using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.
Results: A total of 596 parents were enrolled. The most common age group was 44-52, with females dominating males (78.2% vs. 21.8%). SLE awareness among parents was found to be poor (78.7%). Poor awareness level was prevalent in women than men. Still, the greater awareness was more common among highly educated parents, among those with disease-oriented through online, and those who received disease information from their friends or relatives.
Conclusion: SLE awareness among parents in this study was unsatisfactory. To conclude, healthcare providers should provide more education to parents regarding the management and treatment of SLE in pediatric age groups.
Key words: Systemic lupus erythematosus, parents, children, awareness
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