HrvatskiQuality of Life After Ostomy Formation: Perspectives of Patients and Families
1 Valentino Lučić
2,3 Biljana Filipović
2 Ana Marija Hošnjak
2 Martina Smrekar
4 Danijela Kundrata
2 Sanja Ledinski
1 Health center Zagreb
2 University of Applied Health Sciences
3 Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka
4 General Hospital “Dr. Ivo Pedišić”
Abstract
Introduction: Ostomy surgery, often required due to severe health conditions such as cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases, significantly affects the lives ofpatients and also impacts their family members. This surgery, involving creating surgical openings in the gastrointestinal tract, necessitates significant lifestyle adjustments and complex care, often leading to profound psychological and social challenges for both patients and their caregivers.
Aim: To examine the quality of life of patients with a stoma and to investigate how the stoma affects the quality of life of the families of patients with a stoma.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 70 participants with different types of stomas including urostomies, colostomies, and ileostomies, surveyed from September 1 to October 28, 2023. A specially designed questionnaire was used to collect data on the self-reported quality of life of stoma patients and their family members.
Results: The majority of the participants were over the age of 65, with 42.9% having colostomies and 35.7% ileostomies. A significant 91.2% self-reported depression post-stoma formation, highlighting the psychological impact of stoma. Adjustments to family life were necessary for 68.6%, indicating the substantial effect on the family’s daily routine and emotional status.
Conclusion: Stoma formation adversely affects patients’ mental and social well-being, with substantial emotional and financial impacts on families. The study highlights the critical need for comprehensive postoperative support that encompasses both psychological counseling and educational interventions tailored to patients and their families to alleviate the multifaceted burdens of living with a stoma.
Keywords: Ostomy, Quality of Life, Family