LEVEL OF AWARENESS ON SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS AMONG

RESIDENTS IN BARANGAY SAN JUAN

A Research Paper Presented to the

Faculty of Senior High School
Caraga Regional Science High School
San Juan, Surigao City

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements of the Subject
Practical Research

By:
Hueben P. Kang
Beth A. Nalam
Lia Abigail A. Ramos

March 2019
 ii

APPROVAL SHEET
This research paper entitled, “LEVEL OF AWARENESS ON SYSTEMIC LUPUS
ERYTHEMATOSUS AMONG RESIDENTS IN BARANGAY SAN JUAN”, prepared and

submitted by Hueben P. Kang, Beth A. Nalam, and Lia Abigail A. Ramos is hereby
recommended for approval.

Mark Anthony T. Bangao, MAED

Adviser
Date: _____________

Hazel P. Oliquino Louredil F. Longos, MAEM

Panel Chair Panelist
Date: ________________ Date: _________________

Claire Angelie G. Osorio, MA Cathy B. Escuadro

Panelist Panelist
Date:___________________ Date:__________________

This research paper is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

subject Applied Research 2.

Mr. Reymond A. Mosquito, PhD

Research Instructor/Coordinator, Senior High School
Date: _____________

MA. RUTH R. EDRADAN MA. LUISA A. GUYANO

Assistant Principal II Principal IV
Date: _____________ Date: _____________



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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We, the researchers, would like to express our deepest and sincerest gratitude to
those who helped us in the achievement of this research proposal, especially to the
following for giving the researchers the support, guidance and attention that they’ve
needed to make this research possible. The researchers would like to extend their
gratitude to:
First of all, the researchers are grateful to God who gave the researchers the
knowledge and wisdom and understanding that made the researchers worked with
perseverance. To God, who made things possible, the researchers' huge gratitude goes to
Him.
To the researchers' family, for the moral and financial support they have given to
them. They have been part of the researchers’ source of strength and energy to finish what
has been required to them. The researchers cannot do it without their families.
The researchers would also like to thank the panel who guided and corrected their
research proposal, Mrs. Louredil F. Longos, Ms. Cathy Escuadro, Mrs. Claire Angelie
Osorio and Ms. Hazel P. Oliquino. If it weren’t because of the help of the teachers, this
research would not be made possible. The researchers’ ardent appreciation is extended to
them.
To their Research adviser, Mr. Mark Anthony T. Bangao, for his unending support
and for his help most especially during the correction of manuscript.
To the staff of Barangay San Juan spearheaded by Hon. Susan Galinea, for their
support and understanding in this endeavor, the researchers wish to give them utmost
gratitude.
We also take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our fellow researchers,
who provides us ideas, and opinions by suggesting information to the study. Additionally,
to one and all, who directly and indirectly, lend their hand in this venture.
Thank you! May the Almighty God richly bless all of you.



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ABSTRACT
Lupus, an autoimmune disease usually affecting women, causes the “good
tissues” in the body to become dysfunctional. An increasing number of deaths caused by
one of its forms, Systemic lupus erythematosus, has been recorded. Moreover, it has
prompted the researcher to identify the level of awareness of the Residents in Barangay
San Juan to the pervasiveness of Lupus and what needs to be done so that the proper
measures shall be identified and along with it to raise the right consciousness.The
participants of this research were assessed based on their knowledge in terms of the
nature, causes, effects, symptoms, and treatment of lupus with respect to their gender,
age, annual income, and highest educational attainment. A total of 389 participants were
utilized for the conduct of the research. The descriptive-quantitative research design was
applied to the study and used the stratified random sampling method. Results showed that
the respondents are “Less Aware” on Nature (M= 2.04), Causes (M= 2.16), Symptoms
(M= 2.11), Treatment (M= 1.93), and Effects (M=1.88) factors, an indication that there is
a gap in people’s knowledge when it comes to Lupus, specifically Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus. Finally, data revealed that there is no significant difference in the
awareness levels of the respondents as to their Gender and Age. However, there is a
significant difference in the awareness levels when grouped according to nature and
causes in the Annual Income factor as well as when grouped by the symptoms in the
Highest Educational Attainment factor. As recommendation, the barangay officials should
take action for the spreading of awareness regarding lupus. This includes providing
symposiums, accessible services, sufficient treatment facilities, yearly tests, and
assessments for the residents of Barangay San Juan. Also, further studies regarding the
assessment of the awareness programs and interventions associated with the disease
should be conducted by future researchers.



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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Number
TITLE PAGE i
APPROVAL SHEET ii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT iii
ABSTRACT iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS v
LIST OF TABLES vii
LIST OF FIGURES viii
Chapter 1: : THE PROBLEM AND REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Review of Related Literature 2
1.3 Conceptual Framework of the Study 7
1.4 Statement of the Problem 11
1.5 Hypothesis 12
1.6 Significance of the Study 12
1.7 Scope and Limitation of the Study 12
1.8 Definition of Terms 13
CHAPTER 2: METHODOLOGY
2.1 Research Design 14
2.2 Participants 14
2.3 Instruments 15
2.4 Data Gathering 15
2.5 Data Analysis 16
CHAPTER 3: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
3.1 Profile of the Respondents 17
3.2 Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in Terms of Nature 18



 vi

3.3 Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in Terms of Causes 19

3.4 Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in Terms of Symptoms 21
3.5 Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in Terms of Treatment 22
3.6 Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in Terms of Effects 23
3.7 Summary of Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus 24
3.8 Differences in Levels of Awareness When Grouped 24
According to Gender
3.9 Differences in Levels of Awareness When Grouped 25
According to Age
3.10 Differences in Levels of Awareness When Grouped 26
According to Annual Income
3.11 Differences in Levels of Awareness When Grouped 27
According to Highest Educational Attainment
3.11 Proposed Awareness Program 28
CHAPTER 4: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 Summary of Findings 30
4.2 Conclusion 31
4.3 Recommendations 31
BIBLIOGRAPHY 32
Appendix A LETTER OF PERMISSION TO THE CHAIRMAN 34
Appendix B LETTER OF VALIDATION TO EXPERTS IN THE FIELD 35
Appendix C SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE 38
Appendix D CURRICULUM VITAE 42
Appendix E DOCUMENTATION 45



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LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1 Distribution of Participants Per Purok 14
2 Level of Awareness Indicator, Verbal Interpretation, and Qualitative Description 16
3 Profile Variables of the Participants 17
4 Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Nature 18
5 Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Causes 19
6 Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Symptoms 21
7 Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Treatment 22
8 Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Effects 23
9 Summary Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus 24
10 Significant Difference on the Level of Awareness of the Participants on Lupus 24
According to their Gender
11 Significant Difference on the Level of Awareness of the Participants on Lupus 25
According to their Age
12 Significant Difference on the Level of Awareness of the Participants on Lupus 26
According to their Annual Income
13 Significant Difference on the Level of Awareness of the Participants on Lupus
According to their Highest Educational Attainment 27
14 Proposed Awareness Program 29



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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
1 Schematic Diagram 10



 Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Lupus is a long-term chronic autoimmune disease that attacks healthy tissues,
resulting in inflammation in many parts of the body. There are three main forms of lupus:
drug-induced lupus, discoid lupus erythematosus, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Drug-induced lupus is a lupus-like disease caused by certain medications such as
hydralazine, procainamide, isoniazid, and etc. Discoid lupus erythematosus is a type of
lupus only affecting the skin and not affecting any internal organs (Lupus Foundation of
America, 2013).
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune illness where the immune
system becomes hyperactive and mistakenly attacks healthy tissues in many parts of the
body. The cause of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is not clearly known; however
genetics with environmental factors such as Female sex hormones, sunlight,
smoking, vitamin D deficiency, and certain infections are believed to increase the risk of
developing the disease (Lisnevskaia, L., et al, 2014). The disease can cause widespread
damage to areas of the body, including the joints, skin, heart, blood vessels, brain,
kidneys, bones, and lungs. It can also cause symptoms that vary from severe to mild and
can change over time such as headaches, butterfly rash, anemia, blood-clotting problems,
etc (Rena Goldman, 2017).
It is among the most common autoimmune diseases in the world and has only
recently gained attention when it affected several prominent figures (Selena Gomez, late
Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, etc.). Although several organizations are in the process of
educating more people about it, it has been found that the majority of individuals know
little about it compared to other illnesses (Roper, 2012).

According to the Lupus Foundation of America, and estimate of 1.5 million

Americans, and at least five million people worldwide, have a form of lupus (Roper,
2012). Women are at a greater risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
 2

with a ratio of 4 to 12 women for every 1 man ̶ especially those aged 15 to 44 years.
Minority and ethnic groups—blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, and
American Indians/Alaska Natives—are affected more than whites (Dall’ Era M. , 2013).
The late President Ferdinand E. Marcos was diagnosed with lupus and even died
because of complications of the disease (LA Times, 1986). Moreover, lupus patients have
an average of six years before they are diagnosed, from the first time they notice
symptoms (Al Sawah S, et al., 2015). An example would be a half-Filipina lupus
advocate, Christine Von Raesfeld, who wasn’t officially diagnosed with the illness 13
years after the first symptoms which went unnoticed.
In a case study done by Diango, M.C. on 2014, a 33-year old female from Dulag,
Butuan city has been officially diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus a month
prior to her death. The patient’s history of several complications has lead to the
development of Lupus Nephritis. The researcher concluded that earlier diagnosis may
have helped in the treatment of the disease. Another local example would be an 18 year
old female from St. Paul University Surigao who has recently been diagnosed with Lupus
Nephritis which mainly attacked her joints and kidneys. Moreover, in the past years,
several residents in Surigao City have been reported to have been lupus victims. A
number of these cases have even lead to death due to lack of proper attention and
awareness about the disease
This study aimed to identify the level of awareness of the residents in Barangay
San Juan to the pervasiveness of Lupus. It needs to be done so that the proper measures
shall be identified and along with it to raise the right consciousness for the little-known
disease if ever results show unfavorable data. The beneficiaries of this study include
people with lupus, the society, and future researchers.
Review of Related Literature and Studies
A related study by Abdullah Ahmed AlKhalaf, et al. (2018), from the Faculty of
Family Medicine in King Faisal University on the awareness of Systemic Lupus



 3

Erythematosus (SLE) among students in King Faisal University, showed that students
have low awareness and some misconception regarding the systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE). The awareness level about major symptoms was also low among them. It also
provided evidence that members of this study groups also lack a clear idea about
diagnosis, complications and treatment of disease.
Lupus Nature and its Symptoms
As defined by Fitzpatrick, Thomas B. et. al, Lupus erythematosus is a collection
of autoimmune diseases in which the human immune system becomes hyperactive and
attacks healthy tissues. Symptoms of these diseases can affect many different body
systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs. The most common
and severe form is systemic lupus erythematosus.
In an article by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases (2016), systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) is defined as the event when the
body’s defense system attacks healthy cells and tissues, instead of viruses and bacteria.
Common symptoms include painful and swollen joints, fever, chest pain, hair loss, mouth
ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, feeling tired, and a red rash which is most commonly on the
face. Often there are periods of illness, called flares, and periods of remission during
which there are few symptoms.
In a research article by N. Danchenko, J. A. Satia, et al. (2006), data on systemic
lupus erythematosus (SLE) incidence and prevalence in the USA, Europe, Asia, and
Australia was summarized. An extensive review of electronic resources (PubMed and
MedLine) and medical journals was conducted to identify published studies on systemic
lupus erythematosus (SLE) incidence and prevalence over the period of 1950- early 2006.
Researchers in the countries of interest provided additional information on the
epidemiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The incidence and prevalence of
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) varies considerably across the countries. The burden
of the disease is considerably elevated among non-white racial groups. There is a trend



 4

towards higher incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in

Europe and Australia compared to the USA.
In the study conducted by Tracy Moriarty, et al. (2003), a survey of systemic
lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients was carried out in Portugal. The length of time from
disease appearance to diagnosis remained unchanged over the 1970–2001 study period,
while awareness of the disease increased considerably in the population in the mid-1990s,
apparently as a result of an awareness campaign conducted by the national lupus support
group. The data are compared to results from similar studies worldwide.
Eng M. Ta n, et al. (1982) says the 1971 preliminary criteria for the classification
of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were revised and updated to incorporate new
immunologic knowledge and improve disease classification. The 1982 revised criteria
include fluorescence antinuclear antibody and antibody to native DNA and Sm antigen.
Some criteria involving the same organ systems were aggregated into single criteria. The
new criteria were 96% sensitive and 96% specific when tested with systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE) and control patient data gathered from 18 participating clinics.
When compared with the 1971 criteria, the 1982 revised criteria showed gains in
sensitivity and specificity.
In a study by C. Morgan et al. (2018), an anonymous survey was sent to
5660 LUPUS UK members in order to obtain demographic, diagnosis, symptom and
treatment information. A total of 2527 surveys were returned by 2371 females (mean age
56.9 years, SD 13.6) and 156 males, (mean age 60.9 years, SD 15.7). Individuals reported
a mean (SD) time to diagnosis from the first symptom of 6.4 (9.5) years, with 47% (n = 
1186) initially being given a different diagnosis prior to lupus. Fatigue/weakness (91%, n 
= 2299) and joint pain/swelling (77.4%, n = 1957) were the most common symptoms that
interfere with daily activities, while 73% (n  =  1836) noted having some problems that
make them unable to carry out their usual daily activities. Thirty-two per cent (n = 806)
were also seeking support beyond traditional pharmacological treatments, such as



 5

acupuncture and massage. This study highlights the range and frequency of symptoms
difficult to live with on a daily basis and support areas needing further research to
improve patients’ well-being.
Causes
In a recent study by Travela (2018), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was
shown to have no exact cause. Furthermore, although not having exact causes lupus or
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) several factors has been associated with the disease
such as environmental triggers: ultraviolet rays, certain medications, viruses, physical or
emotional stress and trauma (Z. Rosman, et. al, 2013).
Treatments
Doruk Erkan (2011) says that there are still no cure for systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE) that exists because of the complexity of lupus where it can vary
from one part of the body to the other. The only thing available at the time is treatments
that ease the symptoms of the disease which includes anti-inflammatory medications for
joint pain and stiffness, steroid creams for rashes, corticosteroids to minimize the immune
response, antimalarial drugs for skin and joint problems and disease modifying drugs or
targeted immune system agents for more severe cases.
Additionally, Tennant (2018) also mentioned that aside from drug therapy such as
anti-inflammatory drugs and immune system modulators, lifestyle moderation including
weight loss and protection from the sun, acupuncture and physical therapy can manage
the chronic illness.
In 2011, Dalebuoudt, et al. says that in comparison with patients with asthma,
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients showed more negative illness perceptions
on five of the eight illness perception domains. These findings suggest that the type of
treatment systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with proliferative lupus nephritis
receive may influence perceptions of treatment effectiveness. In addition, patients’
drawings reveal perceptions of damage caused by lupus nephritis to the kidneys and the



 6

extent of relief provided by treatment. The finding that systemic lupus erythematosus is
experienced as a more severe illness than other chronic illnesses supports the need to
more frequently assess and aim to improve psychological functioning in systemic lupus
erythematosus patients.
A related study by Mohammed A Omair, et al. (2015), showed that the awareness
on systemic lupus erythematosus among participants from King Saud University in
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is low. Only one fourth of the participants recognized the
rheumatologist as the best physician treating systemic lupus erythematosus. This means
that not only do diseases need increasing awareness, but also the rheumatology
subspecialty itself needs promotion in the public section. The majority of participants
acquired information from unreliable sources as the information transmitted through
these means becomes distorted, and disease processes are confused; hence, greater
misunderstanding regarding systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) spreads among the
population.
Lupus Awareness
In Shelbie Sullivan’s study in 2016, an systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
disease-specific knowledge questionnaire (LKQ) was created and administered to assess
the knowledge of community members. The specific hypotheses were created to assess
whether having learned about systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in an educational
setting (i.e., educational exposure) as well as the effects of knowing about it on a more
personal level (i.e., disease proximity) were related to scores on the knowledge
questionnaire. In their results, it showed that the average level of systemic lupus
erythematosus knowledge is quite low. However, since no study has examined systemic
lupus erythematosus (SLE) knowledge among community members there was previously
no known rate of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) knowledge. Together these
indicate that community members are confidently unaware of systemic lupus
erythematosus. This low level of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) knowledge and



 7

perceptions of knowledge among the community is important to avoid being misinformed

about systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) since it could lead to negative repercussions
for the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) community (i.e. increased stigmatization of
patients).
In a marketing study, the Lupus Foundation of America (1995) says that a
departure from scientific procedure the Lupus Foundation of America recently completed
an inexpensive marketing study which produced three findings. Firstly, that lupus
awareness in the USA was about 86%, much higher than many other immunologic
illnesses. Secondly, that many people have been told by their physicians that they have
the disease lupus, and considering that data, that over 1.4 million people in the USA have
the disease. Lastly, that the prevalence of the disease, by unsubstantiated claim, would be
a very high 1 in 177 patients. The overall conclusion is that more people are being told
that they have the disease lupus than previously expected.
P. Dourish defined awareness as “understanding of the activities of others, which
provides a context for your own activity”. However, in 2002, the influential computer-
supported cooperative work (CSCW) researcher Kjeld Schmidt criticized the term for its
fuzziness by pointing out that the term is found both “ambiguous and unsatisfactory” and
that the notion of awareness would be “hardly a concise concept by any standard”.
According to L. Loevstrand, the availability of awareness support improves the
effectiveness of how information is spread in communities and positively influences
social interactions taking place in those communities.
Conceptual Framework of the Study
This study is anchored on the study conducted by (Navarra, 2012) where in they
have already observed a rising trend in lupus patients that were coming to clinics in the
past years. Citing records of the Lupus Inspired Advocacy (Luisa) Project, Navarra said
there were 2,273 SLE patients from 1995 to 2010 seen in various rheumatology training
institutions and private rheumatology clinics in the country. The average age of the



 8

patients was 29, while children and adolescents accounted for 408 cases. The patients
were predominantly females with a ratio of 15 to one.
Level of awareness refers to the aspects in terms of nature, causes, effects,
symptoms, and treatment. It will determine the level of awareness amongst the residents
of Brgy. San Juan, Surigao City.
Gender
This profile variable indicates the biological orientation of the respondent in terms
of sexual preference, may it be male or female.
Age
This profile variable indicates the number of years a person is living in the
physical world.
Highest Educational Attainment
This variable denotes the respondent’s level of experience to formal education.
This may constitute elementary, secondary, tertiary, or graduate school.
Nature
This component constitutes the participants’ perceived level of knowledge of
systemic lupus erythematosus in taking the knowledge questionnaire. It comprises the
details such as facts about lupus, the affected demographic, symptoms.
Causes
This component is denoted by the participants’ exposure to systemic lupus
erythematosus information as they are asked by questions related to whether the
participant had heard about the causes of the disease, had they attended a lecture on it,
had they learned about it in class, and had they read about it.
Symptoms
This component is denoted by the participants’ exposure to systemic lupus
erythematosus information as they are asked by questions related to whether the



 9

participant had heard about the symptoms that accompany the disease, had they attended
a lecture on it, had they learned about it in class, and had they read about it.
Effects
This component is denoted by the participants’ exposure to systemic lupus
erythematosus information as they are asked by questions related to whether the
participant know the effects of the disease, had they attended a lecture on it, had they
learned about it in class, and had they read about it.
Treatment
The term “treatment” can be defined as a session of medical care or the
administration of a dose of medicine given to a patient for an illness or injury. It is the
indicator for whether the participant has any knowledge for the treatment to be used for
people suffering from lupus.



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Proposed Awareness
Program for the
Level of Awareness in Residents of Barangay
Profile Variables:
terms of: San Juan
• Gender
• Nature • Epidemiology and
• Age
• Causes Surveillance
• Annual Income
• Effects • Local Health Care
• Highest Educational
• Symptoms System Interventions
Attainment
• Treatment • Community Programs
Related to Clinical
Services

Fig 1. Schematic Diagram of the Study



 11

Statement of the problem

This study aimed to identify the level of awareness of residents in Barangay San
Juan, Surigao City to the pervasiveness of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Specifically, it sought to answer the the following questions:
1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 gender;

1.2 age;

1.3 annual income; and

1.4 highest educational attainment?

2. What is the level of awareness of the participants on Lupus in terms of:

2.1 nature;

2.2 causes;

2.3 effects;

2.4 symptoms; and

2.5 treatment?

3. Is there a significant difference in the level of awareness of the participants

when grouped according to their profile variables?

4. Based on the findings of the study, what awareness program may be

proposed?



 12

Hypotheses
Ho: There is no significant difference in the levels of awareness of the
respondents when grouped according to their profile variables.
Significance of the Study
This study may serve as a general reference and provide additional information
for further researches and be beneficial to the following:
Community. It could be a great help for the community in increasing their
knowledge in Lupus. They will be taught how they will handle the situation in when
encountered. In that way, when time comes and see signs of Lupus, they will be able to
cope up with the needs of the person affected.
Government. This study will give the government a hint on what solutions would
they take to promote and improve the hospitals and be able to provide facilities to help
the affected persons.
Hospitals. The community and the government will not only benefit to this study,
but the hospitals too. Having high quality facilities will elevate the quality of the hospital.
Having facilities that is capable in handling the needs of their patients well is one of the
factors that make people trust hospitals and it increases the satisfaction rate of those
hospitals.
Future Researchers. This study could be used by the researchers for further
researches as reference and be an avenue to further studies in the field.
Scope and Limitations
The study aimed to and was limited only to determine the level of awareness of
Lupus among the residents of Brgy. San Juan. The study was conducted by the
researchers in the S.Y 2018-2019 in the Barangay of San Juan. The researchers only
focused on a specific type of Lupus which is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.



 13

Definition of Terms
To make this research study more understandable to those who might come across
it, the researchers included the definition of some terms which will allow the to better
understand the problem. The following are some of the few words with their
corresponding meaning and explanation.
Awareness. It is an understanding of the activities of others, which provides a context for
your own activity (P. Dourish and V. Bellotti, 1992)
Lupus. It is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body such as
the skin, joints, and/or organs (Salido, et al., 2009)
• In this study, it is operationally defined as the disease that affects most woman
without them knowing.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. It is a multiple system disease, which can affect almost
all of the organs inside of the body. It is a multi-systemic autoimmune disorder and
affects several organs and organ systems. The symptoms are wide ranged and clinical
diagnostic of SLE is complex procedure (Moriarty T., et al., 2003)
• In this study it is also known as a kind of lupus but differ from other as it affects
many organs (Maidhof and Hilas, 2012).



 Chapter 2
METHODOLOGY
This chapter presents the research design, participants, instrument, data gathering
procedure, and data analysis employed in the study.
Research Design
The descriptive research design, using the survey method was employed in this
study. This researcher design is deemed appropriate because it is concerned with the level
of awareness of the residents in Barangay San Juan.
Participants
The participants on the study are the residents of Barangay San Juan. The
participants from Purok 1A to Purok 12 were randomly selected by the Chairman. The
researchers asked assistance from the Barangay Chairman of Barangay San Juan to locate
the purok representatives. Table 1 below shows the distribution of the respondents per
purok, where N is the total population of each purok and n is the number of respondents
utilized per purok which was obtained through the stratified random sampling.
Purok N n

1A 1,411 39

1B 924 26

2 607 17

3 1,764 49

4 1,672 46

5 514 14

6 1,834 51

7 646 18

8 849 23

9 765 21

10 741 20

11 931 26

12 1,395 39

TOTAL 14,053 389

Table 1. Distribution of participants per purok

 15

Instrument
In this study the researchers used a researcher-made questionnaire as the
main instrument for data gathering. The statements that were used in the questionnaire
were adapted from Shelbie Sullivan’s research titled: Development of a Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus Knowledge Questionnaire: The Relationship Among Disease Proximity,
Educational Exposure and Knowledge. The questionnaire has two parts. Part I is about
the profile of the participants. Part II is about the level of awareness of the participants on
Lupus in terms of nature, causes, symptoms, treatments and effects.
The questionnaire was submitted for validation to a group of doctors who
are experts in the field and teachers who are known to have the expertise in the field of
science, english and statistics.
Data Gathering
Before the administration of the research instrument, the researchers made a
formal letter asking permission from the Barangay Captain to allow the researchers to
conduct the study. When the Barangay Captain approved the letter of the researchers,
they complied the requirements that were needed by the Barangay Captain such as the
research paper, questionnaires and informed consent form. The Chairman then assisted
the researchers in disseminating it to the participants.
The questionnaire used had two parts: (1) profiling for categorization, which was
composed of age, gender, annual income, and highest educational attainment; and (2)
level of awareness indicators which included nature, causes, treatment, symptoms, and
effects. After categorization, the profiles of the respondents were arranged in a frequency
distribution consisting of the frequency of participants with respect to their respective
profiling categories and their percentages expressed in percent (%).
Meanwhile, the mean parameters and verbal interpretation of the gathered data
based on level of awareness of the participants were interpreted using the four-point
Likert Scale to compare their measures of awareness. The researchers then tallied the



 16

responses according to each scale from the Likert Scale and attained the weighted means
of each. The overall mean of each level of awareness indicator were acquired for
conclusion, as assessed in the indicators, verbal interpretation, and qualitative description,
as shown in the table below.

Scale Interval Verbal Interpretation Code Qualitative Description Code

4 3.25 - 4.00 Strongly Agree SA Highly Aware H

3 2.50 - 3.24 Agree A Aware A

2 1.75 - 2. 49 Disagree D Less Aware LA

1 1.00 - 1.74 Strongly Disagree SD Unaware U

Table 2. Level of Awareness Indicator, Verbal Interpretation, and Qualitative Description

Data Analysis
The following statistical tools were used in treating the data:
Frequency Count. This was used for the preliminary organization of the data
obtained from the retrieved research questionnaires.
Mean and standard deviation. These tools were used to determine perceived
degree of awareness based on the components given in the questionnaire.
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). This was used in identifying the variance on the
level of awareness of residents in Barangay San Juan, Surigao City about Lupus with
respect to their profile - gender, age, occupation and highest educational attainment.
Four-Point Likert Scale. is an ordered, one-dimensional scale from which
respondents select a rating on a scale from one extreme to another, such as “strongly
agree” to “strongly disagree” that best aligns their view. The researcher used the Four-
Point Likert Scale, scaling from 1 as the lowest to 4 as the highest.



 Chapter 3
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter presents the data gathered from the questionnaires that were
administered to the participants. It presents the results and followed by the discussions.
The presentation follows the sequence of the problems, which are posed in Chapter 1.
Profile of the Participants
Table 3 shows the profile variables of the participants in terms of gender, age,
annual income, and highest educational attainment.

Profile f(n) %
Gender

Male 127 32.65

Female 262 67.35

Age

below 14 22 5.66
15 – 18 128 32.90
19 – 25 82 21.08
25 and above 157 40.36

Annual Income

below 50,000 230 59.13

50,000 to 250,000 114 29.31
above 250,000 45 11.57

Highest Educational Attainment

Elementary 17 4.37
Secondary 172 44.22
Tertiary 200 51.41

Table 3. Profile Variables of the Participant

 18

It can be gleaned on Table 3, that out of the 389 participants who have responded,
there were 22 (5.66%) were in the age of 13 years old and below; 128(32.90%) were in
the age of 15-18 years old; 82(21.08%) were in the age of 19-25 years old; and
157(40.36%) were in the age of 25 years old and above. When it comes to the
participant’s sex, majority of them were female which is 262(67.35%), while male were
127(32.65%) of the participants.
As to the participant’s highest educational attainment, 17(4.37%) were
Elementary level/graduate; 172(44.22%) were Secondary level/graduate; and
200(51.41%) were Tertiary level/graduate. In terms of their annual income, statistic
shows that there were 230(59.13%) who earned below 50,000; 114(29.31%) earned
50,000 to 250,000 and 45(11.57%) earned above 250,000. Table 4 shows the participants’
level of awareness on lupus in terms of nature.

Factor M SD VI QD
Nature

I know that systemic lupus erythematosus…

1. mostly affects women. 2.11 0.98 D LA

2. affects any organ in the body 2.09 0.95 D LA

3. is not contagious. 2.17 0.86 D LA

4. is a treatable disease. 1.87 1.11 D LA

5. is fatal. 1.97 1.15 D LA

Average 2.04 1.01 D LA
Table 4. Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Nature
As to Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Nature, among the 5
indicators, the item with the highest mean is I know that systemic lupus erythematosus is
not contagious (M=2.17, SD=0.86) and is described as Less Aware. This means that the
participants think that lupus is transmittable. This is supported by the study of Tennant
(2018) which states that lupus is an autoimmune disease and is not contagious as it can’t
be passed from one person to another.



 19

Results showed that most of the respondents believe in the misconception that
lupus is contagious. The lack of previous lectures, symposiums, or awareness programs
for lupus in the barangay has contributed to this misconception. In a study by Kornblum
and Julian (2007), it is argued that social problems are issues related to society that have
an effect on our quality of life. Lack of education arguably can lead to many social
problems.
While the item I know that systemic lupus erythematosus is a treatable disease
(M=1.87, SD=1.11) got the lowest mean and is qualitatively described as less aware, this
means that participants did not come to an understanding that Lupus is a curable disease.
This result is also considered by the Mayo Clinic that the treatment for lupus depends on
the signs and symptoms.
Generally, participants’ level of awareness when it comes to nature got the mean of
2.04 which is qualitatively described as less aware. This result is considered with the
findings of study by Dr. Robert Katz (2014) that being aware about lupus is important.
Lack of awareness is not good for people who develop lupus- they often feel somewhat
isolated and uncertain about when to mention their lupus diagnosis with employers,
colleagues and friends.

Causes M SD VI QD

I know that systemic lupus erythematosus…

1. doesn’t have any specific cause. 1.94 0.94 D LA

2. is caused by environmental triggers such as

ultraviolet rays, viruses, trauma, physical or emotional 2.37 0.96 D LA
stress.
3. can be drug-induced after the use of some prescription
1.97 1.12 D LA
medications.

4. has the possibility to be inherited. 2.08 0.94 D LA

5. develops much more often in women than men because
2.44 0.95 D LA
of the female hormones.
Average 2.16 0.98 D LA

Table 5. Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Causes



 20

With regards to Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Causes as

shown in Table 5, among the 5 indicators, the item with the highest mean is I know that
systemic lupus erythematosus develops much more often in women than men because of
the female hormones (M=2.44, SD=0.95), which is described as disagree, this means that
the participants are Less Aware that because of the female hormones of women, they
frequently grow lupus than man.
As far as Domonell (2017), ninety percent of adults with lupus are women. Lupus
diagnosis is complicated because symptoms can look like other conditions. There isn’t a
clear set of diagnostic criteria for the disease. Genetics, hormones and chromosomes play
a role. Lupus is not yet fully understood although both genetics and environmental
factors play a role in disease onset. That’s why the illness is often considered an invisible
chronic illness due to the manifestations which are entirely internal in nature (NIAMS,
2006; Parrondo, 2011). Without proper education or awareness it would be difficult to
know the causes of this uncommon autoimmune disease.
The item I know that systemic lupus erythematosus doesn’t have any specific cause
got the lowest mean (M=1.94 SD=0.94) is described as disagree. Implying that the
participants do not know what are the causes of lupus.
Overall, participants’ level of awareness when it comes to causes got the mean of
2.16 which is qualitatively described as less aware. As to Mayo Clinic (2017), lupus
occurs when the immune system attacks healthy tissue in the body. The cause of lupus in
most cases, however, is unknown. The most common signs and symptoms include- fever,
fatigue, joint pain, stiffness and swelling. Some potential triggers include sunlight,
infections, and medications.
As to Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Symptoms, among the
5 indicators, the item with the highest mean is I know that systemic lupus erythematosus
causes pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress (M=2.46, SD=0.95), which is



 21

described as disagree. An indication that the respondents are unconscious that lupus
affects the skin. According to Lupus Foundation of America (2010), approximately 10
percent of people with discoid lupus later develop lupus in other organ systems, but these
people probably already had systemic lupus with the skin rash as the first symptom.
Discoid lupus lesions are often red, scaly, and thick.
While the item I know that systemic lupus erythematosus causes unusual loss of hair
(M=1.94, SD=1.08) got the lowest mean is described as Disagree. Implying that the
participants are not much aware about hair loss when suffering lupus.
Lupus can cause the hair on your scalp to gradually thin out, although a few
people lose clumps of hair. Loss of eyebrow, eyelash, and beard and body hair also is
possible. In most cases, hair will grow back when lupus is treated but some people with
lupus develop round lesions on the scalp. However, it’s important to note that it’s hard to
identify the specific triggers for every individual patient since each person’s experience
with symptom expression and severity are often unique to him or her.
All in all, participants’ level of awareness when it comes to symptoms got the mean
of 2.11 which is described as unaware. This result is also considered with the finding of
Mayo Clinic Staff (2017) that the symptoms of lupus differ from one person to another.
Some more common symptoms include- achy joints, unexplained fever, swollen joints,
skin rash, ankle swelling, pleurisy, hair loss, and seizures.
Table 6. Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Symptoms

Symptoms M SD VI QD

I know that systemic lupus erythematosus…

1. causes unusual hair loss of hair. 1.94 1.08 D LA

2. causes painful or swollen joints and muscle pain. 2.11 1.07 D LA

3. causes pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress. 2.46 0.95 D LA
4. causes red rashes, commonly on the face. 2.09 1.04 D LA

5. causes unexplained fever. 1.95 0.96 D LA

Average 2.11 1.02 D LA



 22

Treatment M SD VI QD
I know that. . .

1. chemotherapy can help fight systemic lupus erythmatosus. 1.91 1.05 D LA

2. steroids are needed to treat systemic lupus erythmatosus. 1.84 0.74 D LA

3. antimalarial drugs help improve systemic lupus erythmatosus
1.89 1.03 D LA
symptoms.

4. non−steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs control systemic lupus

2.17 0.99 D LA
erythmatosus.
5. the medications for arthritis are the same with the medications for
1.88 1.04 D LA
systemic lupus erythmatosus.
Average 1.93 0.97 D LA

Table 7. Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Treatment

As to Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Treatment, among the
5 indicators, the item with the highest mean is I know that non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs control systemic lupus erythematosus. (M=2.17, SD=0.99), which is
described as less aware, this means that participants are not knowledgeable about certain
drugs that can control the illness.
While the items I know that steroids are needed to treat systemic lupus
erythematosus (M=1.84, SD=0.74) got the lowest mean is described as less aware. Which
means that the participants think that maybe various compounds containing a 17-carbon
4-ring system and including the sterols and numerous hormones and glycosides can cure
lupus. According to Goldman et al, people with more education are more likely to learn
about healthy behaviors which includes health treatments. Educated patients may be more
able to understand their health needs, follow instructions, advocate for themselves and
their families, and communicate effectively with health providers.
Generally, participants’ level of awareness when it comes to treatment got the
mean of 1.93 which is qualitatively described as less aware. This result is also considered
with the findings of Eustice (2018), lupus treatment plans are tailored to the individual
needs and may change over time. The range and effectiveness of treatments for lupus



 23

have increased, giving doctors more choices in how to manage the disease upon diagnosis
and thereafter. Prescription medications such as immunosuppressive and anti-
inflammatory drugs, among other options, may be used.
Table 8 shows the participants’ level of awareness on lupus in terms of Effects.

Effects M SD VI QD
I know that systemic lupus erythematosus…

1. raises your chances of heart disease and stroke. 1.44 0.75 SD HU

2. can inflame the kidneys, causing permanent damage. 1.90 1.07 D LA

3. may inflame the outside lining of the lungs. 1.89 0.92 D LA

4. can damage nerves in the muscles that control your eye

2.00 0.94 D LA
movements.
5. can affect the brain and the nerves in the spinal cord. 2.21 0.77 D LA
Average 1.88 0.89 D LA

Table 8. Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Effects

With regards to Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus in terms of Effects,
among the 5 indicators, the items with the highest mean is I know that systemic lupus
erythematosus can affect the brain and the nerves in the spinal cord (M=2.21, SD=0.77),
which is described as disagree, this means that the participants are less aware that there is
an side effect in the brain and the nerves in the spinal cord when suffering lupus.
The item I know that systemic lupus erythematosus raises your chances of heart
disease and stroke got the lowest mean (M=1.44 SD=0.75) is described as Strongly
disagree. This means that the participants are unaware that having lupus will increase the
chance of having heart disease and stroke. Lack of education and proper intervention is
most often the reason why many people are misled by information. There hasn’t been any
previous awareness programs or any educational promotions about lupus in Barangay
San Juan. This is supported by the research study of Manli Wang et al (2017) which
concludes that health education contributes to people’s knowledge and behaviors toward
infectious diseases.



 24

In general, participants’ level of awareness when it comes to effects got the mean
of 1.88 which is described as less aware. According to WebMd (2015), brain involvement
is, fortunately, a rare problem in people with lupus. It may cause confusion, depression,
seizures, and rarely, strokes.

Factor M SD VI QD
Nature 2.04 1.01 D LA

Causes 2.16 0.98 D LA

Symptoms 2.11 1.02 D LA

Treatment 1.93 0.97 D LA

Effects 1.88 0.89 D LA

Average 2.02 0.97 D LA

Table 9. Summary Participants’ Level of Awareness on Lupus

Thus, it appears in table 9 that the participants’ level of awareness on lupus has
the grand mean of 2.02, qualitatively described as less aware and quantitatively described
as less aware. The variable Causes has the highest mean, followed by the Symptoms,
Nature, Treatment and Effects. It can be concluded that the participants are relatively less
aware about lupus in terms of the five variables and that there is a gap in their knowledge.
Table 10. Significant Difference on the Level of Awareness of the Participants on Lupus
According to their Gender
SS df MS
Perception Effect Effect Effect F p-value Decision Interpretation

No significant
Nature 0.06 1 0.06 0.234 0.6290 Accept H0 difference

No significant
Causes 0.11 1 0.11 0.396 0.5297 Accept H0 difference

No significant
Symptoms 0.03 1 0.03 0.107 0.7432 Accept H0 difference

No significant
Treatment 0.18 1 0.18 0.630 0.4280 Accept H0 difference

No significant
Effects 0.15 1 0.15 0.435 0.5098 Accept H0 difference



 25

As reflected in Table 10, gender has no significant difference as to all the five
variables. The p-value obtained of 0.6290 is higher than the expected level of significant
at 0.05 as to the Nature, 0.5297 as to the Causes, 0.7432 for Symptoms, 0.4280 as to
Treatment and 0.5098 for Effects. Nature, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Effects are
influenced by the gender of the participants. According to Jillian Berman (2015), women
are more educated than men. However as shown in table 10, gender differences cannot
account for the improvement or lack of education when it comes to lupus.

SS df MS
Perception F p-value Decision Interpretation
Effect Effect Effect

Nature 0.70 3 0.23 0.939 0.4217 Accept H0 No significant difference

Causes 1.16 3 0.39 1.398 0.2431 Accept H0 No significant difference

Symptoms 0.50 3 0.17 0.640 0.5896 Accept H0 No significant difference

Treatment 0.36 3 0.12 0.431 0.7307 Accept H0 No significant difference

Effects 1.07 3 0.36 1.026 0.3808 Accept H0 No significant difference

Table 11. Significant Difference on the Level of Awareness of the Participants on Lupus
According to their Age
As indicated in table 11, with respect to Age, all of the indicators have no
significant difference. The number of Nature has a p-value of 0.4217, is higher than the
expected level of significant at 0.05, 0.2431 as to the Causes, 0.5896 for Symptoms,
0.7307 as to Treatment and 0.3808 for Effects. This means that the age of the participants
has no significance difference when it comes to Nature, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment,
and Effects awareness on Lupus. Although it’s expected for younger generations to know
more about lupus which has just recently gained attention since several prominent figures
of today have acquired it, the age of the respondents doesn’t affect their level of



 26

awareness anyhow. They’re just as unaware with people from different age groups.

Perceptio SS df MS
F p-value Decision Interpretation
n Effect Effect Effect

4.75 Do not Accept Has significant

Nature 2.32 2 1.16 0.0091 difference
8 H0
3.64 Do not Accept Has significant
Causes 1.99 2 1.00 0.0271 difference
1 H0
0.51 No significant
Symptoms 0.27 2 0.13 0.5963 Accept H0 difference
8
2.31 No significant
Treatment 1.28 2 0.64 0.0999 Accept H0
8 difference

0.55 No significant
Effects 0.38 2 0.19 0.5769 Accept H0 difference
1
Table 12. Significant Difference on the Level of Awareness of the Participants on Lupus
According to their Annual Income
As to annual income, two among the five variables are significant. Nature has a p-
value of 0.0091 is lower than the expected level of significant at 0.05. This means that
annual income has significance as to nature of lupus. As to Causes, it has a p-value of
0.0271. This means that the annual income has significance to the causes of lupus.
Thus, based on the results in table 12, it can be said that there is a difference in the
level of knowledge about lupus, particularly in its nature and causes, between people with
different incomes. According to the study by Morgan and Farkas, et al. (2009) that
supports this indicates that children from low socioeconomic status households and
communities develop academic skills slower than children from higher SES groups. In
example, low SES in childhood is related to poor cognitive development, language,
memory, socioemotional processing, and consequently poor income and health in
adulthood.



 27

SS df
Perception MS Effect F p-value Decision Interpretation
Effect Effect

No significant
Nature 0.19 2 0.10 0.384 0.6811 Accept H0
difference

No significant
Causes 0.49 2 0.24 0.880 0.4157 Accept H0
difference
Do not Has significant
Symptoms 1.84 2 0.92 3.599 0.0283
Accept H0 difference
No significant
Treatment 0.35 2 0.18 0.627 0.5345 Accept H0
difference
No significant
Effects 0.31 2 0.16 0.449 0.6387 Accept H0
difference

Table 13. Significant Difference on the Level of Awareness of the Participants on Lupus
According to their Highest Educational Attainment

As to the highest educational attainment, one among the five variables is

significant. Symptoms has a p-value of 0.0283 is lower than the expected level of
significant at 0.05. This means that the participants’ highest educational attainment has
significance as to the symptoms of lupus.
An implication that the formal education received by a person greatly affects their
knowledge regarding lupus and perhaps other non-communicable diseases as well. A
higher education attained equates to an increase in a person’s income. As indicated in the
study by Sobolewski JM (2005), people living in households with higher incomes tend to
have more education and are more likely to know about diseases such as lupus. Lupus
that are discussed and encountered more often in college and other related formal
institutions compared to those who are unschooled. College graduates also understand
more about the terms being used in describing certain aspects of lupus such as its
symptoms.



 28

PROPOSED AWARENESS PROGRAM

The table below shows the activities outline for the lupus awareness program. There
will be a lecture and open forum that will transpire on the same day. Also, the residents
will be given informative materials that can be accessed thru print media connections,
online media, and public service announcements. Based on the findings, the residents are
less aware of the nature, causes, symptoms, treatments, and effects of lupus. Hence, the
researchers have created a set of activities to be conducted. These are as follows:
Epidemiology and Surveillance- The medical and barangay staff concerned with
the disease will be able to monitor the pervasiveness of lupus in the Barangay San Juan.
The residents will be grouped according to their age, gender, and etc thru collaboration
with the barangay Health Center. Through this, there will be a readily available database
for further research and lupus-related medical missions among others.
Local Health Care System Interventions- Leverage the use of existing
community health workers/health educators to inform the general public about resources
that are available as part of their normal health promotion duties. Barangay health
workers will attend annual seminars about lupus conducted by Hope for Lupus, Lupus
Inspired Advocacy (LUISA) Project, and Department of Health to improve the services
that they will provide.
Community Programs Related to Clinical Services- Residents, schools, and
various establishments within the barangay will receive lupus awareness materials, health
education details, and lectures that will help them address the gap in lupus awareness.
Also, thru the assistance of at least one (1) national pharmacy with a lupus awareness
campaign, e.g., butterfly images or a purple day to raise awareness and provide resources
on lupus diagnosis and treatment.





PROPOSED AWARENESS PROGRAM

May 2,
2019

May 3-
10,
2019

May 11,
2019

May 12,
2019

May 12,
2019

Table 14. Proposed Awareness Program

29
 30

Chapter 4
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The study was conducted to determine the level of awareness of residents in
Barangay San Juan to the autoimmune disease, Systemic Erythematosus Lupus. It aimed
to seek answers to the following questions: the demographic profile of the residents in
terms of Gender, Age, Annual Income, and Educational background; the level of
awareness of residents on Lupus in terms of nature, causes, effects, and treatments and
whether there is a significant difference in the level of awareness of the participants when
grouped according to their profile variables, as mentioned above.
For data gathering, the researchers used a questionnaire and disseminated it to 389
respondents per Purok from Purok 1A to Purok 12 through stratified random sampling.
1. Most of the respondents were female (67.35%). With regard to Age, majority of the
respondents were 25 years old and above (40.36%), followed by respondents who
were 15-18 years of age (32.90%), then by 19-25 year olds (21.08%) and the least
were below 14 (5.66%). In terms of Annual Income, most of the respondents earned
below 50,000 (59.13%), then respondents who have an income of 50,000 to
250,000 (29.31%). On the other hand, the least of the respondents earned above
250,000 (11.57%). For the Highest Educational Attainment, majority of the
respondents were tertiary graduates (51.41%), followed by secondary graduates
(44.22%) while the least were elementary graduates (4.37%).
2. The results of the awareness levels of the respondents showed that they are
unaware for Nature (M=2.04), Causes (M=2.16), Symptoms (M=2.11), Treatment
(M=1.93), and Effects (M=1.88). Generally, the grand mean is 2.02, with a verbal
interpretation of Disagree and a qualitative description as Less Aware.
3. There is no significant difference in the level of awareness of residents between
male and female respondents of all ages. For the Highest Educational Attainment,



 31

there is a significant difference in the level of awareness of respondents in terms of

the symptoms. For Annual Income, there is also a significant difference in the level
of awareness of respondents when grouped by the nature and causes.
CONCLUSIONS
1. The residents of Barangay San Juan are Less Aware in all factors concerning SLE.
2. The difference in their annual income and highest educational attainment greatly
affects their knowledge of SLE.
3. An awareness program must be formulated to eradicate the lack of awareness and
misconceptions that people have about lupus.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Guided by the findings and conclusions in this study, the following are
recommended by the researchers:
1. The officials of Brgy. San Juan should give the residents symposiums to further
improve their knowledge on Lupus.
2. The Brgy. Chairman should implement a yearly test for the residents of Brgy. San
Juan to prevent loss of lives and further complications associated with the disease.
3. The residents of Brgy. San Juan should immediately ask for assistance to the
Barangay Health Center if they have observed the symptoms of lupus.
4. The Brgy. Health Center should have sufficient treatment facilities.
5. There should be an assessment to the residents of Brgy. San Juan and the
availability and accessibility of their facilities based on the result of this study.
6. Further studies on lupus and its impact on other possible variables must be
conducted.



 32

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abdullah Ahmed AlKhalaf, et al. (2018). Awareness of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
among Students in King Faisal University. Retrieved from
http://egyptianjournal.xyz/706_19.pdf
Abdulkarim FA et al. (2015). Awareness and Misconceptions of Female Students in King
Saud University on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Retrieved from
http://b.3cdn.net/lupus/2489f6ca2bcbde1818_ggm6i6gzi.pdf.
DeGuire P et al. (2014): Population-Based Incidence and Prevalence of Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus: The Michigan Lupus Epidemiology and Surveillance Program.
Arthritis & rheumatology. Retrieved from
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/4/17
Koutsokeras T. and Healy T. (2014). Systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis.
Nat Rev Drug Discov. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17650738
Lupus Foundation Types of Lupus. Retrieved from
https://lupusne.org/about-lupus/types-of-lupus/
Mayo Clinic Lupus Diagnosis and Treatment. Retrieved from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/diagnosis-treatment/
drc-20365790
Moriarty T., et al. Systemic lupus erythematosus in Portugal: diagnosis and disease
awareness from 1970 to 2001. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20487182
Palanisamy Amirthalingam, et al. (2016). Pattern of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in
Tabuk, Saudi Arabia Indian Journal of Basic and Applied Medical Research.



 33

Solomon DH et al. (2013): Epidemiology and Sociodemographics of Systemic Lupus

Erythematosus and Lupus Nephritis among U.S. Adults with Medicaid Coverage,
2000–2004. Arthritis and rheumatism. Retrieved from
https://www.lupus.org/action/spread- awareness
Valentini E et al. (2017): One year in review 2017: systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin
Exp Rheumatol. Retrieved from
http://www.intechopen.com/books/challenges-in-rheumatology/integral-
treatment-of-systemic- lupus-erythematosus
Zhang W., et al. (2017). The worldwide incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus
erythematosus: a systematic review of epidemiological studies. Rheumatology
(Oxford).



 34

APPENDIX A
LETTER OF PERMISSION TO THE CHAIRMAN



 35

APPENDIX B
LETTER OF VALIDATION TO EXPERTS IN THE FIELD



 36



 37



 38

APPENDIX C
SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE

CARAGA REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

Brgy. San Juan, Surigao City

RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE

To our dear participant,

We are student- researchers from Caraga Regional Science High School who are
currently in the process of doing our research, entitled “The Level of Awareness On
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Among the Residents of Barangay San Juan.”
Handed to you is the questionnaire that will serve as instrument from which we will be
gathering the much needed information for this study. May we request your utmost
honesty and full comprehension in answering the questions. We assure you that your
name and ideas regarding this matter shall be kept with utmost confidentiality.

General Direction: Please check (/) the boxes of the corresponding answer:

Part I. RESPONDENT’S PROFILE

Gender: Male Female Other (specify):____________________

Age: below 14 15-18 19-25 25 and above
Annual Income: Below 50,000 50,000 to 250,000 Above 250,000
Highest Educational Attainment:

Elementary Education Secondary Education Tertiary Education

Part II. PERCEPTIONS ON THE EXTENT OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SYSTEMIC LUPUS

ERYTHEMATOSUS.

Directions: Please check the appropriate space that indicates your answer using the
given rating scale with corresponding quantitative description.



 39

LEGEND:

Verbal Interpretation Qualitative Interpretation

1 Strongly Disagree Unaware

2 Disagree Less Aware

3 Agree Aware
4 Strongly Agree Highly Aware

Nature 4 3 2 1

I understand that systemic lupus erythmatosus…

1. mostly affects women.

2. affects any organ in the body

3. is not contagious.

4. is a treatable disease.

5. is fatal.

Causes 4 3 2 1
I observe that systemic lupus erythmatosus…
1. doesn’t have any specific cause.

2. is caused by environmental triggers such as

ultraviolet rays, viruses, trauma, physical or
emotional stress.
3. can be drug-induced after the use of some
prescription medications.

4. has the possibility to be inherited.

5. develops much more often in women than men

because of the female hormones.



 40

Symptoms 4 3 2 1

I observe that systemic lupus erythmatosus…

1. causes unusual hair loss of hair.

2. causes painful or swollen joints and muscle

pain.
3. causes pale or purple fingers or toes from
cold or stress.

4. causes red rashes, commonly on the face.

5. causes unexplained fever.

Treatment 4 3 2 1

I observe that…

1. chemotherapy can help fight systemic lupus

erythmatosus.

2. steroids are needed to treat systemic lupus

erythmatosus.
3. antimalarial drugs help improve systemic
lupus erythmatosus symptoms.

4. non−steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

control systemic lupus erythmatosus.
5. the medications for arthritis are the same
with the medications for systemic lupus
erythmatosus.

Effects 4 3 2 1
I understand that systemic lupus erythmatosus…
1. raises your chances of heart disease and stroke.
2. can inflame the kidneys, causing permanent
damage.



 41

3. may inflame the outslide lining of the lungs.

4. can damage nerves in the muscles that control

your eye movements.
5. can affect the brain and the nerves in the spinal
cord.

THANK YOU
Kang, Hueben P.
Nalam, Beth A.
Ramos, Lia Abigail A.

Researchers



 42

APPENDIX D
CURRICULUM VITAE

Name : Hueben P. Kang

Birthday : November 16, 2000
Place of Birth : Surigao City
Age : 18 years old
Contact Number : 09988536458
Address : Vasquez Street, Surigao City
Parents
Mother : Josette P. Kang
Father : Jaime P. Kang
Educational Attainment

Senior High School : Caraga Regional Science High School

Brgy. San Juan, Surigao City
S.Y. 2017-2019
Junior High School : Caraga Regional Science High School
Brgy. San Juan, Surigao City
S.Y. 2013-2017
Elementary : Surigao City Pilot School
Narciso Street, Surigao City
S.Y. 2007-2013



 43

CURRICULUM VITAE

Name : Beth A. Nalam

Birthday : March 31, 2000
Place of Birth : Surigao City
Age : 18 years old
Contact Number : 09982570373
Address : Kaskag Street, Surigao City
Parents
Mother : Emmalinda A. Nalam
Father : Bernabe P. Nalam
Educational Attainment

Senior High School : Caraga Regional Science High School

Brgy. San Juan, Surigao City
S.Y. 2017-2019
Junior High School : Caraga Regional Science High School
Brgy. San Juan, Surigao City
S.Y. 2013-2017
Elementary : Mainit Central Elementary School - Special Science



 44

Magsaysay, Mainit, Surigao Del Norte

S.Y. 2007-2013
CURRICULUM VITAE

Name : Lia Abbegail A. Ramos

Birthday : November 19, 2000
Place of Birth : Surigao City
Age : 18 years old
Contact Number : 09286080323
Address : Ceniza Heights, Surigao City
Parents
Mother : Evadne A. Ramos
Father : Juan L. Ramos
Educational Attainment

Senior High School : Caraga Regional Science High School

Brgy. San Juan, Surigao City
S.Y. 2017-2019
Junior High School : Bader International School
3752 Al Sayyedah Khadija St, Al Faysaliyah District,
Jeddah 23441, Saudi Arabia
S.Y. 2013-2017
Elementary : School of Tomorrow
Paranaque City, Philippines
S.Y. 2007-2011
Bader International School
3752 Al Sayyedah Khadija St, Al Faysaliyah District,
Jeddah 23441, Saudi Arabia

S.Y. 2011-2013



 45

APPENDIX E
DOCUMENTATION
During the Conduct of the Research




MINUTES
MARCH 7 11:00 AM- 12:00 NN
Panel:
Louredil F. Longos
Cathy Escuadro
Claire Angelie Osario
Chair:
Hazel P. Oliquino

THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS ON SLE AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF

BARANGAY SAN JUAN
RESEARCH DEFENSE
After the research defense, the following were among the suggestions and
corrections of the panellists:
• Change the qualitative descriptions from unaware to “less aware” and highly
unaware to “Not aware at all”
• In the RRL, the sources should be clarified such as in the fourth paragraph of our
research.
• For the Methodology, edit the table showing the population of the barangay.
Identify what the N and n column indicates.
• For the Results, in the profiling, the researchers must include their own
interpretations of the data obtained.
• For the Abstract, there should be a format to be followed.