Abstract: Background Systemic lupus erythematosus is a common chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease which can affect most organ systems. Effective self- management guidelines are required as they may be of a great value in improving awareness, minimizing pain, fatigue and disability. Purpose: To assess the effect of self-management guidelines on awareness, pain and disability among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Design: a quasi-experimental research design was utilized for this study. Setting: The current study was carried out at rheumatology outpatient clinic in Menoufia University Hospital, Shebin El-Kom. Sampling: A consecutive sample of 70 adult patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were assigned alternatively into two equal groups (35 patients in each group). Instruments: Three instruments were used for data collection: Knowledge of Systematic Lupus Erythematosus Structured interviewing, Visual Analogue Pain Scale and Stanford Disability Index. Results: the current study revealed that 82.9% and 77.2% of study and control groups respectively had unsatisfactory total knowledge pre- intervention. While 80% and 74.3% respectively of study group compared to 17.1% and 20% of control group had good total knowledge level at post and follow up self-management guidelines. Conclusions: Self-management guidelines had significant effect on improving the total awareness level, reducing severity of both pain and disability among study group (group I) than control group (group II). Recommendations: Supervised continuous self-management programs for patients with Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in hospitals should be implemented to improve patient's awareness about Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its management. Health education program including self management guidelines should be developed and provided for patients having systemic lupus erythematosus.