Brooke Bailey
Research Mentor(s): Dominique Kinnett-Hopkins
Mentor Department: School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan
Authors: Brooke Bailey, Joyce Chen, Addisyn Carney, Gyan Farrell Caluag, Dominique Kinnett-Hopkins
Session: Session 2 (10:00am – 10:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 52
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; lupus) is a chronic autoimmune illness in which the immune system attacks its own tissues and organs, leading to significant fatigue and reduced quality of life. Nonpharmacologic approaches for SLE focus on improving patients’ lifestyles through the monitoring of physical activity (PA) and dietary habits. The Lupus Intervention Fatigue Trial (LIFT) is a randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the effectiveness of a six-month motivational interviewing coaching program versus a patient education control in alleviating fatigue through increased physical activity and improved diet. A summative evaluation was conducted using individual interviews with all LIFT participants to gain insights into their experiences with the intervention. This evaluation focused on the intervention’s impact on physical activity and dietary behaviors and collected feedback for enhancing the LIFT program. We employed a deductive thematic analysis to systematically explore and categorize participant experiences and outcomes in relation to predefined topics from the interview guide. Preliminary findings indicate that the LIFT intervention provided strategies that improved the management of lupus symptoms, particularly fatigue. The insights gained from this study will inform strategies to refine the LIFT program and develop targeted interventions that encourage physical activity and better dietary habits to help reduce fatigue in SLE patients.
