# Peer Approaches to Lupus Self-Management (PALS) - Diversity Supplement

> **NIH NIH R01** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2021 · $18,987

## Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE PARENT GRANT
The parent grant (R01NR017892 Peer Approaches to Lupus Self-Management PALS) is a randomized
controlled trial designed to examine whether a new, culturally tailored peer mentoring intervention improves
disease self-management, indicators of disease activity, and health related quality of life (HRQOL) in African
American women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) is a
chronic autoimmune disease that is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, healthcare costs and
decreased quality of life. African Americans in the USA have three to four times greater prevalence of SLE, risk
of developing SLE at an earlier age, and SLE-related disease activity, damage, and mortality compared with
Caucasians, with the highest rates experienced by African American women. There is strong evidence that
patient-level factors are associated with outcomes, which justifies targeting them with intervention. While
evidence-based self-management interventions that incorporate both social support and health education have
reduced pain, improved function, and delayed disability among patients with SLE, African Americans and
women are still disproportionately impacted by SLE. Peer mentoring interventions are effective in other chronic
conditions that disproportionately affect minorities, such as diabetes mellitus, HIV, and kidney disease, but
there is currently no empirically tested peer mentoring intervention developed for patients with SLE.
Preliminary data from our group suggest that peer mentoring improves self-management, reduces disease
activity, and improves health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in African American women with SLE. Methods:
This study will test an innovative, manualized peer mentorship program designed to provide modeling and
reinforcement by peers (mentors) to other African American women with SLE (mentees) to encourage them to
engage in activities that promote disease self-management. Through a randomized, “mentored” or “support
group” controlled design, we will assess the efficacy and mechanism(s) of this intervention in self-
management, disease activity, and HRQOL.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10238250
- **Project number:** 3R01NR017892-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Edith Marie Williams
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $18,987
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-09-26 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10238250

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10238250, Peer Approaches to Lupus Self-Management (PALS) - Diversity Supplement (3R01NR017892-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10238250. Licensed CC0.

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