Living well with a stoma: a descriptive evaluation

Abstract

The increasing workloads placed on stoma nurses often put the focus on the practicalities of living with a stoma, with the result being that the emotional impact is overlooked. This research, carried out in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, attempts to capture the impact of a stoma on an individual's quality of life. Advertisements were placed in the press and online looking for ostomates to assist with research. Respondents contacted the clinical research team and were sent a lifestyle questionnaire to complete. The questionnaire was designed to capture both day-to-day stoma-related issues and the psychological impact that stoma-formation surgery has on individuals. In total, 547 questionnaires were returned, giving a return rate of >90%. Participants ranged from 18–92 years old, with postoperative times ranging from <1 to >30 years. While some describing life since surgery chose positive descriptors, such as better, healthier, happy and free, the vast majority reported some negative feelings, with the predominant words being restricted, embarrassing, difficult and inconvenient. This research highlighted the difficulties associated with predicting the psychological impact of a stoma.