Quality of life of people with intestinal stomas

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the quality of life of people with intestinal stomas and verify its association with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with 96 people registered in an ostomy program, with the use of the City of Hope-Quality of Life-Ostomy Questionnaire. Results: The mean score of total QoL in this study was 6.2± 2.8. The highest mean score was found in the spiritual well-being dimension 7.5 (±1.9) and the lowest in the social well-being dimension 5.6 (±2.1). Sociodemographic characteristics (per capita income, education level, religion) and clinical characteristics (length of use and adaptation to the stoma, length of time needed for ostomized people to feel comfortable, difficulty with self-care, and limitation to perform activities of daily living) were associated with total quality of life and its dimensions (p <0.05). Conclusion: Intestinal stomas interfere with quality of life, especially in physical and social dimensions.