Changes In Body Image Research Articles

A Neglected Issue on Sexual Well-Being following Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment among Chinese Women

BackgroundChanges to sexual well-being can be one of the most problematic quality of life issues following the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate changes to sexual well-being following breast cancer, to expand upon the existing body of knowledge pertaining to breast cancer and sexuality, and to provide the necessary information for implementing future interventions that may help improve the quality of life in breast cancer patients.MethodsThis study was mixed with qualitative and quantitative designs. Twenty patients with breast cancer were recruited for in-depth interviews. The central questions covered a patient’s cancer experience and perceptions of sexual activities following breast cancer. According to the findings of the qualitative study, we performed a quantitative study using a structured questionnaire to collect data on patient’s experience and attitude to sexual well-being following breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.ResultsBased on the qualitative analysis, seven main themes emerged: (1) Decrease in sexual frequency; (2) Lack of sexual interest; (3) Menopausal symptoms; (4) Body image changes; (5) Effects on marital relationship; (6) Misconceptions about sex; (7) The need for professional consultation. Results from the quantitative study further supported the findings from the qualitative analysis, where changes to sexual well-being were common following cancer diagnosis and treatment and it was a neglected issue among Chinese women.ConclusionsThe present study highlights the significant changes to sexual well-being following breast cancer, in addition to the lack of knowledge and misconceptions of sexual activity among patients. Addressing these problems will help improve a patient’s quality of life. The findings of this study could help healthcare professionals recognize the sexual issues faced by women with breast cancer and ultimately promote a healthy life.

Evaluating the Impact of Nutrition Programs on Psychosocial Health

I have always felt that we, ie, nutrition educators, need to evaluate the impact our programs have on psychological and social components of health. How many of us have evaluated changes in self-efficacy, perceived control, and expectations with regard to attitudes, habits, and behavioral intentions? It is also rare to find those of us who have used instruments to assess changes in self-esteem, body image, and body satisfaction.

Strength Training Improves Body Image and Physical Activity Behaviors Among Midlife and Older Rural Women

The effect of strength training on body image is understudied. The Strong Women Program, a 10-week, twice weekly strength-training program, was provided by Extension agents to 341 older rural women (62±12 years); changes in body image and other psychosocial variables were evaluated. Paired-sample t-test analyses were conducted to assess mean differences pre- to post-program. Strength training was associated with significant improvements in several dimensions of body image, health-related quality of life, and physical activity behaviors, satisfaction, and comfort among rural aging women—an often underserved population that stands to benefit considerably from similar programs.

A imagem corporal e o envelhecimento na perspectiva de professores de uma universidade brasileira.

This article presents partial results of a research study currently underway. The objective of this portion of the research is to identify the perceptions of old age, both its negative and positive aspects, held by a group of Brazilian university professors. A pilot group of six professors was interviewed with a semi-structured script in an attempt to reveal the stereotypes regarding issues of old age, work and retirement. The analysis of this material allowed the development of a questionnaire used in the second phase of the process. This questionnaire was answered by 40 professors between 60 and 77 years of age, of whom 25 were men (62.5%) and 15 were women (35%). Out of these 40 professors, 39 were already retired. The questionnaire was divided into four sections: identification, stereotypes of old age, perceptions of work, and views of retirement. The collected data was then divided into subthemes and analyzed statistically through the SPSS program. The conclusion was that body image and body changes represent defining factors of the perception of the aging process.

Contextual Factors Influencing Breastfeeding Practices Among Arab Women in the State of Qatar

Breastfeeding is an important source of nutrition and sustenance for infants and toddlers, and has also been linked to several aspects of emotional, physiological, and psychological developments. Benefits of breastfeeding include lower morbidity and mortality rates in infants, appropriate nutrition for early physiological development, and improved immune system development. Some studies also suggest it may enhance cognitive development and reduce the risk of diabetes. These health benefits positively influence the physiological status of the infant throughout his or her early childhood and adolescence. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding be initiated immediately following birth and continued until the infant is at least 6 months of age. However, according to the UNICEF report, between 2000-2007 in Qatar, only 12% of babies under 6 months were exclusively breastfed. Funded by the QNRP (Qatar Undergraduate Research Experience Program), the goal of this exploratory qualitative study was to find ways to effectively promote breastfeeding practices among Qatari women by investigating factors affecting the ways in which Qatari women (national and nonnational Arab women) make decisions to engage in breastfeeding practices and their overall knowledge of breastfeeding. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 32 Arab mothers as research participants and individual in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant. Results showed that professional support from doctors and nurses, social support from parents and spouse, cultural and religious values, economic ability work restrictions, time, as well as availability of help and care at home, personal challenges, such as perceptions of pain, body image, and body changes, were some of the major factors in making decisions to breastfeed or not.

Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: Examining Survivor Burden and Unmet Needs

Although improvements in perioperative care have decreased surgical morbidity after radical cystectomy for muscle invasive bladder cancer, treatment side effects still have a negative impact on patient quality of life. We examined unmet patient needs along the illness trajectory. A total of 30 patients (26.7% women) treated with cystectomy and urinary diversion for muscle invasive bladder cancer participated in the study. Patients were recruited from the Department of Urology at Mount Sinai and through advertisements on the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) website between December 2011 and September 2012. Data were collected at individual interviews, which were audiotaped and transcribed. Transcribed data were quantitatively analyzed to explore key unmet needs. At diagnosis unmet informational needs were predominant, consisting of insufficient discussion of certain topics, including urinary diversion options and their side effects, self-care, the recovery process and medical insurance. Unmet psychological needs related to depression, and worries about changes in body image and sexual function were reported. Postoperative unmet needs revolved around medical needs (eg pain and bowel dysfunction) and instrumental needs (eg need of support for stomal appliances, catheters and incontinence). During survivorship (ie 6 to 72 months postoperatively) unmet needs centered around psychological support (ie depression, poor body image and sexual dysfunction) and instrumental support (eg difficulty adjusting to changes in daily living). Meeting patient needs is imperative to ensure adequate patient involvement in health care and enhance postoperative quality of life. An effective support provision plan should follow changes in patient needs.

Hormonal therapies in young breast cancer patients: when, what and for how long?

Breast cancer in young women (<40 years) is a rare and complex clinical and psychosocial condition, which deserves multidisciplinary and personalized approaches. In young women with hormone-receptor positive disease, 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen, with or without ovarian suppression/ablation, is considered the standard endocrine therapy. The definitive role of adjuvant aromatase inhibitors has still to be elucidated: the upcoming results of the Tamoxifen and EXemestane Trial (TEXT) and Suppression of Ovarian Function Trial (SOFT) trials will help understanding if we can widen our current endocrine therapeutic options. The optimal duration of adjuvant endocrine therapy in young women also remains an unresolved issue. The recently reported results of the ATLAS and aTToM trials represent the first evidence of a beneficial effect of extended endocrine therapy in premenopausal women and provide an important opportunity in high-risk young patients. In the metastatic setting, endocrine therapy should be the preferred choice for endocrine responsive disease, unless there is evidence of endocrine resistance or need for rapid disease and/or symptom control. Tamoxifen in combination with ovarian suppression/ablation remains the 1st-line endocrine therapy of choice. Aromatase inhibitors in combination with ovarian suppression/ablation can be considered after progression on tamoxifen and ovarian suppression/ablation. Fulvestrant has not yet been studied in pre-menopausal women. Specific age-related treatment side effects (i.e., menopausal symptoms, change in body image and weight gain, cognitive function impairment, fertility damage/preservation, long-term organ dysfunction, sexuality) and the social impact of diagnosis and treatment (i.e., job discrimination, family management) should be carefully addressed when planning long-lasting endocrine therapies in young women with hormone-receptor positive early and advanced breast cancer.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EXPOSURE TO MEDIA AND BODY WEIGHT CONCERN AMONG FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN FIVE ARAB COUNTRIES: A PRELIMINARY CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY

Mass media play an important role in changing body image. This study aimed to determine the role of media (magazines and television) in body weight concern among university females in five Arab countries. A total sample of 1134 female university students was selected at convenience from universities in five Arab countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Oman and Syria. The females' ages ranged from 17 to 32. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to assess the exposure to mass media regarding weight concerns. For the variables on exposure to mass media, girls were divided into two groups: infrequently exposed and frequently exposed. In general, the females who were exposed to mass media had a greater risk of having dieted to lose weight and changing their ideas of a perfect body shape than those who were not exposed or infrequently exposed. The association of exposure to magazines with having dieted to lose weight was only significant among females in Bahrain (p<0.044), Egypt (p<0.001) and Jordan (p<0.001). Exposure to television had a weaker association than exposure to magazines with body weight concerns of females. The association of exposure to television with females' idea of a perfect body shape was only statistically significant in females in Egypt (p<0.019) and Oman (p<0.019). The pressure from mass media on the body weight concern of female university students may lead these women to practise unhealthy weight control diets.

Psychische Komorbidität, Körperbildprobleme und psychotherapeutische Interventionen bei Brandopfern: ein Überblick

Due to progress in burn treatment, more patients even with severe burn injuries survive. Despite this positive development, however, there are still negative somatic and mental consequences. These include the life-long care of scars and pain. In addition, posttraumatic-stress disorder and depression are common consequences. Also distress due to disfigurement and body image problems have to be considered, since this is likely to result in social withdrawal, low self-esteem, and reduction of quality of life. Overall, the impact of mental strain on burn victims is quite high. Therefore, psychotherapeutic treatment approaches should be integrated into the care of patients with burns. This might be helpful for both coping and compliance with long-term treatment. This paper provides a review of the mental co-morbidity of burn victims and of psychotherapeutic treatment approaches focusing on changes in body image and the respective social consequences.

A violência intrafamiliar e o adolescente que vive com HIV/AIDS por transmissão vertical: análise dos fatores de proteção e de vulnerabilidade

The scope of this study was to analyze protection and vulnerability factors in physical and psychological domestic violence among adolescents infected with HIV/AIDS through vertical transmission. This group is especially susceptible as they have vulnerability factors such as chronic disease, orphanhood with consequent change of caregivers and impaired body image. The research was conducted in a public hospital. The first stage used the Parent Child Conflict Tactics and the Degree of Psychological Violence Scale to determine what domestic violence occurred. In the second qualitative stage, the adolescents who scored the most or the least for violence in the quantitative instrument were interviewed. The questionnaires and the interviews revealed a high prevalence of physical and psychological violence and abusive domestic dynamics, thereby corroborating the extant literature. In view of the consequences of this kind of violence, it is essential that the health professional should be able to identify violent situations and recognize vulnerability factors and to promote protection factors against ill-treatment.

Clinician's Commentary on Singh et al.

Should physiotherapy be considered a standard of care for women with breast cancer (and other types of cancer)? The pilot project presented by Singh and colleagues1 describes the role of physiotherapists starting before breast-cancer surgery and a follow-up process that may result in less arm morbidity. While the purpose of a pilot project is to test feasibility, test a study process, or establish sample size for a larger study,2 Singh and colleagues have also identified benefits for early intervention by physiotherapists for women with breast cancer.1 These preliminary findings are supported in previous research by Springer and colleagues that found significant improvements in shoulder function;3 however, while this study was prospective in design, it had no control group.3 Beurskens and colleagues4 have also reported beneficial effects of physiotherapy with postoperative intervention, but no preoperative intervention was included in their study. Other randomized controlled studies have found that early physiotherapy intervention was effective in reducing pain,5 an important post-surgery impairment reported by women with breast cancer, and in improving shoulder function with early or late treatment.6 But physiotherapy treatment is not limited to pain, shoulder function, and mobility in people with cancer. Regardless of when physiotherapists see patients with cancer—before surgery, immediately after surgery, or in a private clinic after recovery—exercise is the foundation of physiotherapy. Providing properly prescribed exercise for people with cancer has many benefits that are well described in the literature.7,8 There is evidence of the benefits of exercise and physiotherapy intervention throughout the cancer-care continuum, including palliative care.9–11 While physiotherapists focus on mobility and quality of life, it is important to remember that physiotherapy interventions can also affect survival: there is evidence that exercise can improve survival, reduce recurrence, and reduce overall mortality in women with breast cancer who exercise after diagnosis.12–15 The potential role of physiotherapists following breast-cancer surgery is summarized by the Norwegian Physiotherapists Association Standard on management of female breast cancer.16 Clinical guidelines on rehabilitation for women with breast cancer have been published, but their quality varies.17 As holistic care providers, physiotherapists can manage not only the physical challenges related to the cancer and its treatment but also other potential comorbidities and psychological effects associated with a cancer diagnosis. Following breast-cancer diagnosis and treatment, women often experience body-image changes and worry about their future or their families. During physiotherapy treatment, the therapist may be able to spend time with the patient and identify—and hopefully address—these non-physical problems. When a physiotherapist ask a patient, “How are you feeling today?” he or she is evaluating the patient's mental state16 and is ready to modify the planned physical treatment to include emotional support if necessary. Physiotherapists can also refer patients to other care providers when they no longer need specialized care. Given the evidence supporting physiotherapy interventions for women with breast cancer and the unique holistic skills available to physiotherapists, a referral to physiotherapy should routinely be considered when a woman is diagnosed with cancer. Although the role of physiotherapists may be educational before medical management is initiated, education empowers patients at a time when they feel vulnerable. As the cancer survivor moves through the cancer-care continuum, physiotherapists can work with other care providers to ensure access to evidence-based rehabilitation and/or exercise programmes. It is time to consider that physiotherapy should be a standard of care for people living with cancer.

The influence of sociocultural factors on the eating attitudes of Lebanese and Cypriot students: a cross‐cultural study

The present comparative cross-cultural study aimed to explore the relationship between eating behaviour and sociocultural influences with respect to appearance and body image in female university students from two cultural contexts, namely Cyprus and Lebanon. The Dutch Eating Behavior questionnaire (DEBQ) and the Perceived Sociocultural Influences on Body Image and Body Change Questionnaire were used to assess sociocultural influences and body image, respectively, in 200 students from each country. The results indicated that the Lebanese students were more likely to engage in emotional and external eating and their body image was impacted to a larger extent by sociocultural agents, including media influences, compared to the Cypriot students. Also, a positive relationship was found between emotional and external eating in both cultures. Finally, sociocultural influences correlated positively with external eating only in the Cypriot sample. Culture-specific factors, such as the societal values and norms, as well as the Westernisation history of each country, are discussed as underpinnings for the differences found. These findings are significant for understanding the rise of eating pathology in these two cultures and provide evidence for a need to consider cultural environment when designing public health policies addressing the negative aspects of nutrition transition.

Factors Associated With Depression in Disease-Free Stomach Cancer Survivors

ContextDepression in cancer survivors affects the rest of their lives in many ways. ObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence of depression and identify associated factors in disease-free stomach cancer survivors. MethodsWe enrolled 391 stomach cancer survivors who had been disease-free for at least one year after surgery from the cancer registries of two hospitals in Korea. Stomach cancer survivors were mailed a survey that included the Beck Depression Inventory, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30, and the associated stomach module, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Stomach Cancer Module 22. ResultsForty-four percent of survivors suffered from depression, and more women (49%) than men (42%) had high depression scores (Beck Depression Inventory >13). In multiple logistic regression analysis, lower income (odds ratio [OR] 2.49; 95% CI 1.64–3.78), problems with care before treatment (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.23–2.98), body image change (OR 2.23; 95% CI 1.41–3.53), and symptoms of fatigue (OR 3.11; 95% CI 1.49–6.52), dyspnea (OR 2.57; 95% CI 1.48–4.45), or insomnia (OR 4.51; 95% CI 1.88–10.83) were associated with depression. ConclusionThe prevalence of depression was high in stomach cancer survivors even after the completion of treatment, especially among those with problems amenable to treatment, and we identified the associated factors. We suggest that stomach cancer survivors should be screened for depression after the end of treatment.

Psychosexual Functioning and Body Image Following a Diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

There has been exponential growth in diagnoses of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the past decade, yet little is known about sexual functioning and body image in women after diagnosis of DCIS. This is of particular importance because many of the parallel treatment modalities also used to treat invasive breast cancer, e.g., surgery and hormonal therapy, have been shown to have a detrimental effect on psychosexual function. The aim was to explore changes in sexual function and body image after diagnosis and treatment of in situ cancer. Evidence-based self-report measures assessing psychosexual functioning and body image. Women diagnosed with DCIS within the past 3 months and who reported being sexually active completed measures assessing various aspects of psychosocial and sexual functioning and body image. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline, 9-, and 18-month time points. All statistical tests were two sided. Three hundred four women completed this prospective survey. Overall, sexual function in women with DCIS appears to be very similar to women in the general population and does not seem to be significantly disrupted by a diagnosis of DCIS. Sexual function and body image were notably stable across the 18-month length of follow-up. Of those patients who underwent mastectomy, there were no differences in sexual satisfaction for patients who had reconstruction compared with patients who did not. Although it has been shown that women with DCIS have a number of psychosocial challenges, results from this large-scale prospective study of women suggest that sexual function and body image may not be significantly negatively affected by this diagnosis. Of note, these results were also the case for women who underwent mastectomy and hormonal therapy. These findings are reassuring for both patients and physicians in the context of decision making about treatment options.

The Use of Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy in Patients With Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women. Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) offers the opportunity to preserve the breast envelope and the nipple-areolar complex by removing only breast tissue and avoiding multiple surgical procedures for reconstruction. The objective of this article is to review the oncologic and surgical concerns with NSM, along with the appropriate selection of patients and potential postoperative complications. A review of the literature was conducted through MEDLINE®, PubMed, and Google Scholar, focusing on recent research. The findings revealed that although the oncologic safety of NSM continues to be debated, indications are strong that cancer recurrence rates are low and the aesthetic motivation is high for carefully screened patients. From those findings, considerations for patient education regarding risks and expectations are described. Nurses in a variety of cancer care settings can use this information to address the concerns of patients making decisions regarding surgical options and adjusting to postoperative body image expectations and changes.

Factors Influencing the Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis in their Decision to Seek Podiatry

Despite the level of foot involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the literature to support early assessment of foot care needs, local referral of patients to podiatry has been occurring too late to instigate certain preventative interventions. Preliminary fieldwork has highlighted that the primary responsibility for the instigation of this lies with the patient. The present study describes the factors that influence the patient with RA in their decision to self-report foot problems. A case study research strategy was employed. Nine patients attending the outpatient rheumatology department participated in the study and data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. This information was analysed using a framework approach. The key themes derived from the data suggested that there are a variety of factors influencing the patient's decision to self-report foot concerns. Some will act to encourage the action and others will act to oppose it. Other factors can influence the decision either way, depending on the individual patient (psychological state, previous experience, body image changes). In addition, age, gender, and cultural and social aspects are also significant. Due to the multitude of factors influencing the individual's decision to seek help, the patient cannot be given sole responsibility for their foot health if we wish to achieve timely and appropriate podiatry, as recommended in the literature. Responsibility should be three-way; the patient, the members of the rheumatology team and, once in the podiatry service, the podiatrist should maintain this.

Risk for Eating Disorders Modulates Startle-Responses to Body Words

Body image disturbances are core symptoms of eating disorders (EDs). Recent evidence suggests that changes in body image may occur prior to ED onset and are not restricted to in-vivo exposure (e.g. mirror image), but also evident during presentation of abstract cues such as body shape and weight-related words. In the present study startle modulation, heart rate and subjective evaluations were examined during reading of body words and neutral words in 41 student female volunteers screened for risk of EDs. The aim was to determine if responses to body words are attributable to a general negativity bias regardless of ED risk or if activated, ED relevant negative body schemas facilitate priming of defensive responses. Heart rate and word ratings differed between body words and neutral words in the whole female sample, supporting a general processing bias for body weight and shape-related concepts in young women regardless of ED risk. Startle modulation was specifically related to eating disorder symptoms, as was indicated by significant positive correlations with self-reported body dissatisfaction. These results emphasize the relevance of examining body schema representations as a function of ED risk across different levels of responding. Peripheral-physiological measures such as the startle reflex could possibly be used as predictors of females’ risk for developing EDs in the future.

Prenatal distress in Turkish pregnant women and factors associated with maternal prenatal distress

To assess: (1) the prenatal distress level in Turkish pregnant women and (2) to examine the association between prenatal maternal distress and personal and pregnancy-specific factors. Pregnant women experience stress originating from a variety of pregnancy-specific issues, including physical symptoms and changes, changes in body image, physiological, social and emotional changes, parenting concerns, changes in relationships with significant others, medical problems, anxiety about labour and delivery, concerns about birth and the baby's health. A descriptive cross-sectional study. This study was conducted at a gynaecology clinic of a private hospital in Istanbul, Turkey within a 12-month period. The study sample comprised 522 pregnant women continuing their regular visits for prenatal care. Pregnancy Description Form and Turkish Version of Revised Version of Prenatal Distress Questionnaire [(NUPDQ)-17 Item Version] were used for data collection. Study sample was moderately distressed. Turkish pregnant women were mostly distressed and concerned about premature delivery, having an unhealthy baby, labour and delivery, feeling tired and having low energy during pregnancy. Prenatal distress in Turkish pregnant women was associated with personal and pregnancy-related characteristics. This study found that pregnant women need to be supported emotionally, physically and socially. A better understanding of prenatal maternal distress could assist in informing healthcare professionals about the provision of physically, emotionally, socially and behaviourally appropriate support for achieving a healthy pregnancy. It is crucial for pregnant women to be regularly assessed and educated for dealing successfully with concerns and fears about prenatal period, birth and postnatal period and about difficulties that women may encounter during their pregnancy.

Body image; literature review

Nowadays, in developed countries there are standards of beauty based on pro-thin models, which are internalized by adolescents and young people especially in the case of women, assuming it as risk factor for developing changes in body image and perception. To analyze the current state of research in relation to body image, the sociodemographic variables that influence it, the relationship between body composition, conducting diets, eating disorders, sports and intervention programs and prevention, and the body image. It was searched in Medline, Isi Web of knowledge and Dialnet as well as a manual search among the references of selected studies and in different libraries. A increased socio-cultural influence is associated with a greater perception of body fat, greater body image dissatisfaction and lower self assessment of overall fitness. This leads to a lot of teenagers and young adults to abuse to the restrictive diets and to suffer eating disorders. Numerous studies have analyzed the relationship between sports practice with body image disturbance; there are conflictive results. Moreover it is necessary to design objective tools to detect changes and enhance the design of prevention and intervention programs in order to avoid distortion of body image, especially in those age ranges where the population is more vulnerable to this phenomenon. The excessive current preoccupation about body image has resulted in the realization of diets and changes as eating disorders. There are other factors that influence body image and perception as the realization of physical exercise, although the results about the relationship between these factors are contradictory. Therefore, further work is needed on the issue by creating tools to detect changes and enhance the design of prevention and intervention programs.

Stomas changing lives: facing the illness to survive

This paper is an exploratory and descriptive field research with a qualitative approach, aimed at describing the changes in the daily life of stomized people and identify their ways of coping with their illness. The sample consisted of individuals with a permanent intestinal stoma for at least two years and who were enrolled in the Multidisciplinary Assistance Program for Stomized Patients (PAMPO in Portuguese). Semistructured interviews were used, to collect data, which were recorded and later transcribed verbatim, producing a text for content analysis, as proposed by Laurence Bardin. Most colostomized individuals made changes in their way of life after the stoma creation, such as physical, psychological, and social changes caused by the loss of sphincter control and changes in body image, which led to the need to adopt strategies to adapt to new circumstances. Some people adapted well to these changes, while others had difficulties in dealing with such changes, resulting in psychological and physiological imbalances. Therefore, the adjustment or not to the problem stressors, in this case the creation of the stoma, influence the quality of life of stomized individuals. It is commonly observed that shortly after undergoing a surgical process, patients become enormously involved with taking great care of themselves, which they did not feel confident enough to do before. This is due to the aid offered by nursing care. It is also important to note that it is the nurse’s role to intervene exclusively in the perioperative period, aimed at achieving the best possible adaptation for stomized individuals, encouraging the patient to face the chronic and permanent intestinal stoma, which demands continuous and long-term care from both the healthcare group and the interdisciplinary team.