Other Titles
Rising Star Poster/Presentation
Abstract
Background: Approximately 1.5 million Americans and at least 5 million people worldwide are affected by some form of lupus (Lupus Foundation of America, 2023), and recently approved lupus therapies remain inaccessible to many patients due to the lack of coverage by healthcare systems, disproportionately affecting individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds (Mosca et al., 2024).
Purpose: Guided by the Lupus Foundation of America’s (LFA) campaign theme, "Be Fierce. Take Control.", the initiative emphasizes health empowerment and self-advocacy.
Methods: This study used a simple random sample of 36 undergraduate students at Bowie State University. Informed consent was obtained before participation. After Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, data was collected via a self-assessment survey on Google Docs over four weeks. Participation was voluntary and confidential, and only eligible individuals could participate. The survey incorporated both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative questions gathered demographic data (age, gender, race, student status, and education). Open-ended questions explored lupus-related challenges and strategies for raising awareness within the community. Descriptive analysis classified students, while thematic analysis examined qualitative responses on lupus knowledge and challenges.
Results: Of 36 participants, 22 (61.1%) were somewhat familiar with lupus, 4 (11.1%) were very familiar, 5 (13.9%) had heard of it but were unsure what it was, and 3 (8.3%) had never heard of it. Only 2 (5.6%) reported either having lupus or knowing someone with the disease. Findings highlight a significant knowledge gap and the need for greater lupus awareness and education. Participants expressed strong interest in learning more and provided feedback on improving outreach.
Conclusion: While most participants were somewhat familiar with lupus, knowledge gaps remain, particularly regarding symptoms and health impact. These results underscore the need for increased awareness and education, especially in communities facing health equity challenges. Future initiatives should prioritize targeted outreach, community engagement, and educational programs to bridge knowledge gaps and improve early diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
Notes
References:
Al Sarah, S., Daly, R. P., Foster, S., Naegeli, A., Benjamin, K., Doll, H., Bond, G., Moshkovich, O., & Alarcon, G. (2015, June). Understanding delay in diagnosis, access to care, and satisfaction with care in lupus: Findings from a cross-sectional online survey in the United States. Presented at the
European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2015 Annual Conference.
Alsowaida, N., Alrasheed, M., Mayet, A., et al. (2021). Medication adherence, depression, and disease activity among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus, 30(1), 43-51.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28825347/
Buie, J., McMillan, E., Kirby, J., Cardenas, L. A., Eftekhari, S., Feldman, C. H., Gawuga, C., Knight, A. M., Lim, S. S., McCalla, S., McClamb, D., Polk, B., Williams, E., Yelin, E., Shah, S., & Costenbader, K. H. (2023). Disparities in lupus and the role of social determinants of health: Current state of knowledge and directions for future research. ACR Open Rheumatology, 5(9), 454-464.
https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.11590
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Lupus: Minority health and racial disparities. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/lupus/facts/minority-health.html
Gergianaki, I., & Bertsias, G. (2018). Systemic lupus erythematosus in primary care: An update and practical messages for the general practitioner. Frontiers in Medicine, 5, 161. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2018.00161
Lupus Foundation of America. (2019, June 25). Lupus awareness survey for the Lupus Foundation of America (2019). Washington, DC. https://www.lupus.org/news/2019-lupus-awareness-survey-summary
Mosca, M., Bruce, I. N., Andersen, J., F, M., & Arnaud, L. (2024). Challenges and opportunities in access to care for systemic lupus erythematosus patients across Europe and worldwide. Rheumatology, 63(7), 1772-1778. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keae227
Pons-Estel, G. J., Alarcon, G. S., Schofield, L., Reinlib, L., & Cooper, G. S. (2010). Understanding the epidemiology and progression of systemic lupus erythematosus. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, 39(4), 257–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2008.10.007
Sigma Membership
Nu Beta at-Large, Lambda Eta
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Mixed/Multi Method Research
Keywords:
Lupus Awareness, Health Disparities, Black and Latina Women, Chronic Illness Education, College Health Initiatives, Minority Health
Recommended Citation
Anako, Chizoba; Little, Celicia; Afere, Tomilola; and Onwumere, Marvel, "Empowering Black/African American and Latina/Hispanic American Women through Lupus Awareness" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 182.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/182
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Invited Presentation
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Empowering Black/African American and Latina/Hispanic American Women through Lupus Awareness
Seattle, Washington, USA
Background: Approximately 1.5 million Americans and at least 5 million people worldwide are affected by some form of lupus (Lupus Foundation of America, 2023), and recently approved lupus therapies remain inaccessible to many patients due to the lack of coverage by healthcare systems, disproportionately affecting individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds (Mosca et al., 2024).
Purpose: Guided by the Lupus Foundation of America’s (LFA) campaign theme, "Be Fierce. Take Control.", the initiative emphasizes health empowerment and self-advocacy.
Methods: This study used a simple random sample of 36 undergraduate students at Bowie State University. Informed consent was obtained before participation. After Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, data was collected via a self-assessment survey on Google Docs over four weeks. Participation was voluntary and confidential, and only eligible individuals could participate. The survey incorporated both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative questions gathered demographic data (age, gender, race, student status, and education). Open-ended questions explored lupus-related challenges and strategies for raising awareness within the community. Descriptive analysis classified students, while thematic analysis examined qualitative responses on lupus knowledge and challenges.
Results: Of 36 participants, 22 (61.1%) were somewhat familiar with lupus, 4 (11.1%) were very familiar, 5 (13.9%) had heard of it but were unsure what it was, and 3 (8.3%) had never heard of it. Only 2 (5.6%) reported either having lupus or knowing someone with the disease. Findings highlight a significant knowledge gap and the need for greater lupus awareness and education. Participants expressed strong interest in learning more and provided feedback on improving outreach.
Conclusion: While most participants were somewhat familiar with lupus, knowledge gaps remain, particularly regarding symptoms and health impact. These results underscore the need for increased awareness and education, especially in communities facing health equity challenges. Future initiatives should prioritize targeted outreach, community engagement, and educational programs to bridge knowledge gaps and improve early diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
Description
Guided by the LFA's campaign theme, "Be Fierce, Take Control.", this initiative emphasizes health empowerment, self-advocacy, raising campus awareness and improving students' quality of life and health care disparities. Through educational workshops, wellness events, panel discussions, and surveys, the campaign seeks to equip students with knowledge and tools for early detection and management of lupus while fostering a supportive environment for individuals with chronic illnesses.