A Progressive Home-based Exercise Intervention for Persons with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The goal of the proposed research project is to develop and pilot test a progressive home-based, four-month, exercise program for increasing physical activity (PA) participation towards the national guidelines and for decreasing fatigue in inactive persons with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, lupus) based on social cognitive theory (SCT) principles of behavior change and motivational interviewing (MI). • Aim 1: To develop a four-month progressive home-based exercise intervention for inactive persons with SLE. • Aim 2: To pilot test the effect of a progressive home-based exercise intervention for inactive persons with SLE on increasing self-reported exercise behavior (primary outcome), device-measured PA behavior (primary outcome), reducing fatigue and other SLE symptoms (secondary outcome), and determinants of PA behavior (secondary outcome). Hypothesis: I hypothesize that 15 people with SLE will have an increase in the amount of exercise and PA behaviors, a decrease in fatigue levels, and a greater change in SCT determinants of PA that is sustained for at least 2 months following the progressive home- based exercise intervention in comparison to a waitlist control group of 15 persons with SLE. • Aim 3: To conduct a formative evaluation and an assessment of the acceptability of the progressive home-based exercise intervention by participants with SLE through semi- structured one-on-one interviews. Hypothesis: Participants receiving the intervention will describe the intervention as at least moderately acceptable and the formative evaluation will provide results to help improve the programs patient-centeredness and appropriateness for persons with SLE.