Abstract
IntroductionAdaptation to living with a stoma is complex, and studies have shown that stoma creation has a great impact on patients' health related quality of life. The objective was to explore the effect of a structured patient education program on health related quality of life. Therefore, we implemented interventions aimed at increasing health related quality of life during and after hospital admission.Materials and MethodsWe designed a case/control study aimed at adult patients admitted to the surgical ward for stoma creation, irrespective of type of stoma or reason for creation of stoma. We included 50 patients in the study. Health related quality of life was measured before hospital discharge, three months and six months after stoma creation. The program included educational interventions involving lay-teachers, alongside health professional teachers.ResultsWe found a significant rise in health related quality of life in the intervention group (P<0.001) and no significant change in the control group (P = 0.144). However, we found no significant differences when comparing between groups at 3 and 6 months (p = 0.12 and p = 0.63, respective). Additionally, there were differences in scores in health related quality of life baseline (p = 0.045) with lower scores in the intervention group compared with the intervention group. However, there were no significant differences in the demographic variables at baselineConclusionsEducational activities aimed at increase in knowledge and focusing on patients' psychosocial needs may lead to a rise in patients' health related quality of life. When patients with a stoma attend a structured patient education program it is possible to improve their health related quality of life compared with patients with a stoma, who do not attend the program.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01154725
Highlights
Adaptation to living with a stoma is complex, and studies have shown that stoma creation has a great impact on patients’ health related quality of life
We found a significant rise in health related quality of life in the intervention group (P,0.001) and no significant change in the control group (P = 0.144)
We found no significant differences when comparing between groups at 3 and 6 months (p = 0.12 and p = 0.63, respective)
Summary
Adaptation to living with a stoma is complex, and studies have shown that stoma creation has a great impact on patients’ health related quality of life. Stoma creation affects patients differently [1], but generally we know that health related quality of life is impaired when trying to adjust to a life with a stoma [2,3]. There is some evidence showing, that patient education may help to increase patients’ knowledge about their health, their condition and their self-care possibilities [5] Few studies have explored the issue of the effect of patient education on health related quality of life, and only in single-group studies [6,7]. We designed a clinical study exploring the effect of structured patient education in patients after stoma creation. We hypothesized that patient education and telephone follow-up would affect treatment outcome of health related quality of life (hrqol)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
