Nursing interventions for people with systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multisystem autoimmune disease characterised by diverse clinical manifestations that require multidisciplinary care. Across diverse care settings, nurses play a central role in supporting patients through education, psychosocial support and self-management strategies. However, evidence on nurse-led interventions and their effects on health outcomes in people with SLE remains fragmented.

This systematic review aimed to synthesise existing evidence on nurse-led interventions for adults with SLE and their effects on health outcomes.

We systematically searched CINAHL, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Trip Database and the Cochrane Library in July 2026, with additional searches of Google Scholar. Eligible studies included adults with SLE, evaluated nurse-led interventions and reported at least one health outcome. Quantitative intervention studies published in English or French between 2016 and 2026 were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Data were extracted on study characteristics, interventions and health outcomes. Due to heterogeneity in study design, interventions and outcomes, a narrative synthesis was conducted.

Twenty-four studies were included. Nurse-led interventions primarily focused on therapeutic education and self-management, psychological and psychoeducational support, and lifestyle and self-care interventions. Improvements were most consistently reported in SLE-related knowledge and self-management and quality of life, with additional benefits reported for fatigue, pain and psychological outcomes.

Nurse-led interventions may improve several health outcomes in adults with SLE, particularly SLE-related knowledge, self-management and quality of life. However, heterogeneity across interventions and outcomes, together with methodological limitations and risk of bias, limits the certainty of the evidence. Further research is needed to strengthen the evidence on the effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in adults with SLE through rigorous study designs and longer follow-up.