Factors associated with the feeling of stability in the daily life among colostomy patients

Abstract

Aim: Colostomy patients must lead a stable life after discharge. However, little is known about the feeling of stability in the daily life of these patients. The purpose of the present study was to identify the associated factors.Methods: The subjects were outpatients who met all of the following criteria: (i) a permanent colostomy for the treatment of colonic, rectal, or anal cancer; (ii) under 80 years of age; (iii) a colostomy history of less than 10 years; and (iv) no significant prior physical or psychiatric disorders. Data were collected by conducting interviews using a questionnaire, examining medical records, and asking the nurses responsible for patients' care. The following measures were evaluated: patients' feeling of stability in the daily life, patients' characteristics, physical condition, support resources, self-evaluation of their current life, and hospital characteristics. Statistical analysis was performed using t-tests, Spearman's rank correlation coefficients, and structural equation model.Results: Data from 133 patients were available for analysis. The final model fitted the data well. All estimated parameters were significant. The opportunity to attend periodic stoma clinics and support from nurses contributed to the feeling of stability in the daily life and had a positive effect on patients' self-evaluation of their current life.Conclusions: The results of this study corroborated the necessity for an outpatient support system to enhance the feeling of stability in the daily life after hospital discharge. This finding supports the need to improve stoma care systems and to make such systems more available.