Experiences of Living with Intestinal Ostomy: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis

Comparison of adjustment to a temporary or permanent ostomy using the OAI-23

AIM

The aim of this work was to compare adjustment between those with a new temporary or permanent ostomy in a cohort of Australian adults.

METHOD

This is a multicentre, longitudinal observational study. Ostomy adjustment was measured using the Ostomy Adjustment Inventory (OAI-23) at six possible time points ending at 9 months postsurgery or at the time of ostomy closure in those with a temporary stoma. The OAI-23 includes four domains: anger, acceptance, anxious preoccupation and social engagement.

RESULTS

Eligibility criteria were met by 1230 patients, with 849 (69%) recruited and consented. Of these, 108 were excluded as their surgery did not result in the formation of an ostomy and a further 41 were excluded due to there being no data on ostomy type (temporary or permanent). This left a study population of 700, of whom 397 had a temporary and 303 a permanent ostomy. Only small differences were observed between the temporary and permanent ostomy groups at most time points within the four OAI-23 domains. There were no statistically significant differences found beyond 2 weeks postdischarge and the differences were of small size. While no difference was found between the groups in the domain of anxious preoccupation, both groups demonstrated an increase in anxious preoccupation over time. Neither group regained their presurgery confidence to attend social engagements.

CONCLUSION

We found only minor differences in adjustment in those with a new temporary ostomy compared with a new permanent ostomy. Both groups demonstrated increasing anxious preoccupation and problems with social engagement. This suggests that access to education, training and support should be equitable between these two groups in clinical practice, and needs to incorporate a focus on psychological as well as physical outcomes.

"I Am Half of a Person": Lived Experiences of Individuals Living With Ostomy After Surgery in Rural Haiti

Intestinal ostomy can have significant effects on lives and lived experiences. However, limited research exists on the experiences of persons with ostomy in low-resource settings, such as rural Haiti. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Haitians with an ostomy, focusing on the physical, psychological, and social aspects of their post-operative lives. We conducted 9 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with participants who had undergone ostomy surgery at the Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais in Haiti. Employing interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), we iteratively examined transcripts to identify convergent and divergent codes, which were then grouped into themes to better understand the participants' experiences. Three themes emerged: (a) ostomy as a social disease, which has severe impacts on relationships and place in society; (b) ostomy as altering self-image, leading participants to reflect on their identity and the underlying causes of their condition and to reevaluate their necessities and abilities; and (c) ostomy as an arduous medical journey, characterized by pain, distress, uncertainty, and disillusionment, but also resiliency, improvisation, and hope. This study highlights the multifaceted experiences of persons with ostomy in the low-resource rural environment of Haiti and underscores the need for improved access to medical care, financial support, and psychosocial and caregiving resources for these individuals. Findings also emphasize the importance of medical providers' improved understanding in making medical decisions, and cultural and socioeconomic factors in developing effective support strategies.

Stoma Perceptions of Adults with an Ostomy: A Metaphor Analysis in a Single Center

OBJECTIVE

To use metaphor to evaluate stoma perceptions among adults with ostomies to conceptualize and portray their lived experiences using a figurative approach.

METHODS

A qualitative research design was used. Participants were 27 adults with an ostomy who were followed up in the stoma therapy unit. Individuals were included in the study if they had had a temporary or permanent ostomy for at least 2 months and spoke Turkish. Participants were asked to complete the sentence: "Stoma is like…/similar to… because…." The researchers used content analysis to evaluate participants' responses. Interpretation of the metaphors developed by participants was carried out in five phases: coding, example metaphor compilation, theme development, ensuring trustworthiness, and transferring.

RESULTS

Participants expressed a total of 17 unique and 10 repeated metaphors for the concept of "stoma." These metaphors were grouped under three different themes: positive (lifesaving), negative (punishment/enemy), and neutral (temporary/necessity for life). The most commonly used metaphors were life, savior, comfort, difficulty, fear, punishment, and necessity.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with an ostomy mostly had negative metaphorical associations with stomas. The authors recommend that hospitals implement multifaceted interventions to bring positive metaphors to individuals with ostomies.

Peristomal Complications

Patients with new ostomies are being discharged from the hospital without enough hands-on training for ostomy care. Maintaining healthy peristomal skin is one of the greatest challenges for patients with an ostomy. Unfortunately, peristomal complications are very common and affect quality of life. It is important that home healthcare clinicians maintain competency in ostomy care, so they have the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent and treat peristomal complications. This article focuses on peristomal skin assessment as well as prevention and treatment of common peristomal complications.

A study on patterns, indications, and complications of an enteric stoma

Introduction:

Stoma could be a surgically created opening within the abdominal wall. The main purpose of the stoma is to divert the excreta off from the distal intestinal loops to relieve an obstruction or protect anastomosis. The indications for stoma creation are intestinal obstruction due to benign or malignant tumors, perforation peritonitis, inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal malignancies, and anorectal malformations.

Aim of the study:

The study aimed to identify the patterns, indications, and complications that occur following the creation of enteric stomas.

Materials and Methods:

It is a prospective observational study conducted from May 2012 to October 2015 on a hundred patients, who were admitted in the department of general surgery, surgical gastroenterology, and pediatric surgery, Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital. The sampling method followed here is the non-probability convenience sampling technique. The data is collected from all the patients who come under the inclusion criteria.

Results:

Of 100 patients, the majority of the patients belonged to 26–35 years and 46–55 years (n = 25). Based on the study, loop colostomy is more common with age less than one year and loop ileostomy is more common in 26–55 years. The foremost common indication of an enteric stoma is a gastrointestinal malignancy (25%) followed by abdominal trauma (22%). In our study, an ileostomy (80%) is the most common type of stoma created followed by colostomy. Within the ileostomy, loop ileostomy is the more common (60%) followed by end ileostomy (20%). Among the complications related to an enteric stoma, skin excoriation (54.4%) is most common followed by surgical site infections (8.5%).

Conclusion:

Our study shows stoma creation is higher in the adult and old age group, mostly done as an emergency procedure compared to an elective procedure. So, better preoperative planning in both emergency and elective settings can reduce the number of stoma and its related complications. The duration of hospital stay is higher in stoma patients. So, the reduction in stoma creation leads to a reduction in complication, duration of hospital stays and indirectly reduces expenditure related to it. In our study, most of the stoma is created for obstruction in malignancy and perforation in trauma patients. From our study, we can observe early diagnosis of intestinal malignancy with a well-planned elective procedure or bride procedure like colonic stenting in malignant obstruction can reduce the number of stoma creation. Skin excoriation is the most complication followed by surgical site infections. These complications can be reduced by better postoperative stoma care and early reversal of stoma.