Assessment of the Difficulties Experienced by Individuals with Intestinal Stomas: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the difficulties faced by individuals with intestinal stomas. METHODS The authors used a qualitative descriptive phenomenologic design. The study population comprised individuals with intestinal stoma living in Eskişehir who were 18 years or older and did not have any mental, physical, and communication disorders. Criterion sampling and snowball sampling methods were used. Data were collected from June to September 2019 through a questionnaire of personal characteristics as well as a semistructured interview. Data on personal characteristics were analyzed in numbers and percentages, and qualitative data were analyzed using the MAXQDA 2020 program (VERBI Software, Berlin, Germany). RESULTS The study data were evaluated under two headings: (1) themes created using the Roy's Adaptation Model and (2) other themes. In the themes created using the Roy's Adaptation Model, difficulties related to the physiologic adaptation mode and interdependence adaptation mode were observed, whereas among other themes, difficulties due to lack of information and economic worries were commonly reported. CONCLUSIONS Most individuals experienced sleep pattern disturbances; faced issues in their relationships with family and friends due to physiologic and psychological distress; received no training for stoma care, diet, or sexual life; could not cope with issues related to the stoma; and faced financial difficulties in procuring stoma bags and care products.