Impact of stoma on lifestyle and health‑related quality of life in patients living with stoma: A cross‑sectional study
Volume 10, Issue 11, November 2020, Pages 1-6
. Deena Davis, . Lakshmi Ramamoorthy, . Biju Pottakkat
Abstract INTRODUCTION: A person with colostomy or ileostomy undergoes a comprehensive treatment
with a wide range of adjustments which affect the individual’s social and psychological functioning.
Quality of life (QOL) is a subjective feeling which includes physical, social, psychological, and spiritual
domains of an individual that can be affected by a stoma.
AIM: This study is aimed at identifying the QOL and impact of stoma on their lifestyle pattern among
ostomates attending stoma outpatient department of gastroenterology department of a government
tertiary care center in South India during 2018.
METHODS: A descriptive study using a cross‑sectional survey design was conducted among 55
ostomates, following consecutive sampling technique. The data were collected using a City of Hope
QOL Questionnaire for Ostomy patients which had QOL Assessment Questions from four subdomains
including physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects. This tool also had open‑ended
questions on lifestyle assessment components.
RESULTS: 63.6% of the participants had colostomy; 72.7% of the stomas were due to cancer. The
mean QOL score of the participants was 4.13 ± 1.07. The ostomates scored relatively well in both
physical (5.68 ± 1.76) and spiritual (4.32 ± 1.36) domains, but the sociological (2.85 ± 1.3) domain score
was very low. Permanent ostomates scored significantly higher than the temporary ostomates (P = 0.04).
CONCLUSION: The QOL score of ostomates was less than the scores reported in the Western
population and living with stoma significantly alters their lifestyle. Therefore, follow‑up services and
counseling services to the ostomates by the health‑care professionals are needed.