Comparative Study of Health-Related Quality of Life between Colorectal Cancer Patients with Temporary and Permanent Stoma

Abstract

Objective: To compare the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with temporary and permanent stoma. Methods: This survey was a cross-sectional study that was conducted on 110 CRC patients living with stoma. A validated Thai version of Padilla and Grant’s HRQOL (as a cancer nursing outcome variable) was used. Enrolled patients must have age between 40-60 years and live with stoma over a period of 3 months. Results: There were 83 patients with temporary stoma and 27 patients with permanent stoma. The majority was male and got married. The common indication for temporary and permanent stoma was low anterior resection and abdominoperineal resection, respectively. Overall mean HRQOL index was not significantly different between groups. There was also no difference in the mean QOL of each domain - namely physical well-being, psychological well-being, body image concerns about stoma, social support concern, and diagnosis/treatment response between those with temporary and permanent stoma. Notably, the domain of body image concern had the lowest QOL index in both groups. Conclusion: Postoperative health-related quality of life was not different between Thai colorectal cancer patients with temporary or permanent stoma. However, the patients with permanent stoma appeared to have non-significant higher score in every domain of health-related quality of life than those with temporary stoma.