Patterns of change over time in learned response to chronic illness among participants in a systemic lupus erythematosus self-help course.

The findings of this descriptive study of learned response to chronic illness over time of 291 persons having a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who had attended a series of self-management classes demonstrated significant change in learned response over time. Self-help model variables that significantly contributed to the change were uncertainty, depression, enabling skill, self-efficacy, and self-worth. Uncertainty and depression decreased over time while enabling skill, self-efficacy, and self-worth increased. Subjects also demonstrated significant increases in self-help course tied variables of SLE knowledge and both the range and number of rest, relaxation, heat, and exercise activities.