Quality of Life and Its Influencing Factors Among Chinese Patients With Permanent Colostomy in the Early Postoperative Stage: A Longitudinal Study

A longitudinal study of resilience and social function in patients with colorectal cancer and stomas

OBJECTIVE

To explore the dynamic changes, influencing factors, and relationships between resilience and social function in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and stomas at different postoperative stages, and to inform precise psychosocial rehabilitation interventions.

METHODS

A longitudinal study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in eastern China from January 2021 to June 2023. Patients completed a self-designed socio-demographic questionnaire one month post-surgery, and the Connor and Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and Social Dysfunction Screening Scale (SDSS) at 1, 3, and 5 months post-surgery. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, Spearman correlation, group-based trajectory modeling, and binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 131 patients were included in the analysis. Resilience showed an initial increase followed by a decline, while social function consistently improved. A moderate negative correlation between social dysfunction and resilience was observed at all time points. Influencing factors for resilience and social function varied across different postoperative stages. Significant differences in resilience trajectories were observed based on education and family income. Resilience trajectories significantly impacted social function trajectories (OR 19.39, 95 % CI 2.46-152.91, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study identifies distinct trajectories of resilience and social function in patients with colorectal cancer and stomas. Low resilience is linked to severe social function deficits. Stage-specific interventions are crucial to enhance social adaptation and improve overall quality of life. Tailored support is needed throughout recovery to address the unique challenges faced by these patients.

Social isolation profiles and conditional process analysis among postoperative enterostomy patients with colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

This study aimed to identify social isolation latent profiles and analyze the specific mechanisms in which social support, resilience, and posttraumatic growth associated social isolation from the perspective of positive psychology. Suggestions were offered to improve the mental health status of postoperative enterostomy patients with colorectal cancer.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional survey. From December 2022 to September 2023, convenience sampling was used to select 303 enterostomy patients from three hospitals in Guangzhou. A paper questionnaire was used to investigate their levels of social support, resilience, posttraumatic growth, and social isolation. T-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Analysis, Latent Profile Analysis and Conditional Process Analysis were used to analyze the correlation between variables.

RESULTS

(1) Education level, occupation, family monthly income per capita and times of changing enterostomy bag per week were significantly associated with social isolation. (2) Social isolation of patients included low alienation-fluctuation group (Class 1, 13.9%), medium group (Class 2, 64.0%), high alienation-low meaning group (Class 3, 22.1%). (3) Social isolation was negatively correlated with social support, resilience, and posttraumatic growth (P < 0.001). (4) Resilience played a mediating role in the association between social support and social isolation. (5) The second half path of the mediation model was moderated by posttraumatic growth.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical staff, community personnel and family members should pay attention to the potential differences in social isolation experienced by patients. Suitable psychological strategies should be employed to enhance resilience, promote posttraumatic growth, for improving the patients' mental health levels and help them return to society.

Self-Care and Quality of Life of Ostomy Patients: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

Background. Previous research has shown that patients with ostomy frequently exhibit a low health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Self-care is a key element that influences their HRQoL. However, the evidence regarding the relationship between these two constructs in patients with ostomy is still not clear. Materials and Methods. This was a secondary analysis of an Italian multicenter, observational, longitudinal study. Participants were recruited from seven outpatient ostomy care clinics in central and northern Italy. The Stoma-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (Stoma QoL) and the Ostomy Self-Care Index (OSCI) were administered to the participants. The relationship between self-care and HRQoL was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results. A total of 521 patients were enrolled. Our results emphasized that self-care is a predictor of HRQoL among people with ostomy. Self-care maintenance and self-care monitoring had a positive effect on HRQoL (self-care maintenance: β = 0.506, p < 0.001; self-care monitoring: β = 0.303, p < 0.001). The model exhibited acceptable fit indices: χ2 (151, n= 521) = 516.447, p ≤ 0.001, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.97, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.96, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.068 (90% CI, 0.062-0.075), p < 0.001, and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.038. Conclusions. The structural equation model tested the causal relationship between self-care and HRQoL in people with a stoma, demonstrating for the first time that inadequate self-care in patients with ostomy may lead to lower HRQoL. Thus, to enhance HRQoL, interventions should be designed to improve self-care behaviors. Future research should investigate potential mediating variables in the relationship between self-care and HRQoL.

Psychometric properties of the New General Self-Efficacy Scale for Vietnamese persons with colorectal cancer

Background

There are currently no specific tools available to assess self-efficacy among Vietnamese individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC) post-surgery. Translating and evaluating the psychometric properties of the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSE) for use in the Vietnamese population could help address this gap.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Vietnamese version of the NGSE scale.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample consisted of 120 individuals aged 20-59 with CRC post-surgery, recruited through a multi-stage sampling technique from three hospitals in Vietnam. The scale was translated into Vietnamese using Brislin's technique. Content validity was assessed using the Content Validity Index for item (I-CVI) and for scale (S-CVI). Construct validity was examined through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and reliability was measured using Cronbach's α coefficients.

Results

The findings showed an I-CVI of 1.00 and an S-CVI of 1.00, indicating excellent content validity. The Cronbach's α for the NGSE was 0.95, indicating excellent internal consistency. CFA results showed that all eight items fit well within a unidimensional structure (χ2 = 48.936, p >0.05, df = 24, χ2/df = 2.04, RMSEA = 0.078, CFI = 0.979, TLI = 0.971, SRMR = 0.023). Factor loadings for each item ranged from 0.798 to 0.901.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the NGSE scale demonstrates good psychometric properties as applied to the Vietnamese individuals examined in this study. This instrument can be regularly utilized in clinical settings to identify key concerns in colorectal cancer patients' care and facilitate appropriate nursing interventions to enhance self-efficacy in this population effectively.

A causal model of health-related quality of life in colorectal cancer patients post-surgery

PURPOSE

this study aims to develop and test a model examining the causal relationship between self-efficacy, social support, fatigue, pain, functional status, and health-related quality of life (HRQL).

METHODS

A cross-sectional correlation study was conducted using a multi-stage sampling technique to recruit 256 individuals aged 20 to 59 with colorectal cancer (CRC) post-surgery from three hospitals in Northern Vietnam. The hypothesized model, based on Ferrans' HRQL conceptual model and literature review, was validated using structural equation modeling (SEM) and Mplus.

RESULTS

the model fit the data well, explaining 52% of the variance of HRQL. Self-efficacy emerged as the most influential factor directly impacting HRQL (β = .494, p < .05) and also had negative indirect effects on HRQL through fatigue and pain (β = -.271, p < .05). Social support had a positive direct (β = .406, p < .001) and negative indirect effects on HRQL via fatigue and pain (β = -.143, p < .05). Fatigue and pain had negative indirect effects on HRQL through functional status (β = -.336, p < .05 and β = -.219, p < .05, respectively). Functional status had a positive direct effect on HRQL (β = .418, p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The study's findings highlight the importance of improving self-efficacy, social support, and functional status, while reducing fatigue and pain to enhance HRQL among individuals with CRCpost-surgery. These insights can inform the development of targeted interventions to improve the well-being of this population.

Marital status after colorectal surgery in familial adenomatous polyposis: a nationwide multicenter study in Japan

BACKGROUND

Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) experience psychological and social challenges concerning future events such as marriage and childbirth alongside the medical risks of colorectal cancer (CRC) and FAP-related disease. We retrospectively investigated the rate of marriage and childbirth postoperatively in Japanese patients with FAP.

METHODS

We included 161 patients who had colorectal surgery and reported marital status from a national survey of 35 Japanese institutions. Participants were classified according to marital status: married before colectomy (80 patients), married after colectomy (13 patients), and unmarried (68 patients).

RESULTS

The marriage rate for all 161 patients (57.8%, standardized ratio 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76-1.14) was comparable to that in the general Japanese population (57.1%). The marriage rate among the 81 patients who were unmarried before colectomy was low (16.0%); however, the standardized marital ratio (0.75, 95% CI 0.34-1.15) was not significantly lower than that of the general population. In multivariable logistic regression, younger age (born after 1980, odds ratio [OR] 0.12, p < 0.001) and genetic testing (OR 4.06, p = 0.001) were associated with postoperative marriage. Seventy-one percent of patients with FAP who married after colectomy became pregnant and achieved delivery.

CONCLUSIONS

The marriage rate of patients with FAP was comparable to that of the general population whereas the rate after colectomy was low among patients with FAP. However, in patients with FAP, colorectal surgery itself may not lead to negative consequences in terms of fecundity.

A latent profile analysis of psychosocial adjustment in patients with enterostomy after rectal cancer surgery

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to improve the level of psychosocial adjustment and quality of life of patients with enterostomy by analyzing the subgroups of psychosocial adjustment and its influencing factors.

METHODS

This was a multi-center cross-sectional study. On the basis of investigating the level of psychosocial adjustment of enterostomy patients, a profile model of psychosocial adjustment of patients with enterostomy was established by using latent profile analysis. Univariate analysis and multinomial logistical regression were used to analyze the factors affecting the different psychosocial adjustment subgroups of enterostomy patients.

RESULTS

Psychosocial adjustment of 3840 patients with enterostomy can be divided into three latent characteristics: Moderately high psychosocial adjustment level and high positive emotion in enterostomy patients (24.5%), Medium psychosocial but low social life adjustment (64.6%), low psychosocial adjustment level and high negative emotion (10.9%). Multinomial logistic regression showed that enterostomy self-care knowledge score, gender, medical payment method, educational background, carer, and self-care ability were affecting the subgroup classification of psychosocial adjustment of enterostomy patients.

CONCLUSION

The psychosocial adjustment level of enterostomy patients can be divided into three latent profiles, which have obvious classification characteristics. Future studies can provide individualized interventions for different subgroups of enterostomy patients to improve the psychosocial adjustment of enterostomy patients.

Discharge teaching quality positively predicts quality of life in colorectal cancer patients with temporary enterostomy: The mediating role of readiness for hospital discharge and stoma self-efficacy

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of readiness for hospital discharge (RHD) and stoma self-efficacy (SSE) in the relationship between quality of discharge teaching (QDT) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in colorectal cancer patients with temporary enterostomy, and the gender difference of mediating effect.

BACKGROUND

It is not clear how RHD, QDT, SSE and HRQOL interact in colorectal cancer patients with temporary enterostomy.

METHODS

This was a prospective follow-up survey. 221 colorectal cancer patients with temporary enterostomy were conveniently recruited from a general hospital in Southeast China. The Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale, Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale, Stoma Self-Efficacy Scale, and Stoma Quality of Life Scale were used to collect data. Pearson's correlation and structural equation models were used to analyze the data. SPSS 26.0 and Amos 28.0 software were used for analysis the collected data.

RESULTS

Regarding the relationship of QDT and HRQOL, only QDT-T had a direct effect among colorectal cancer patients with stomas (b = 0.233, P<0.001, percentile 95% CI = [0.145, 0.314]). However, both QDT-T and QDT-R can predict HRQOL indirectly through three paths: (1) the mediating role of SSE (b = 0.050, P = 0.009, percentile 95% CI = [0.013, 0.098]; b = 0.077, P = 0.008, percentile 95% CI = [0.021, 0.164]), (2) the mediating role of RHD (b = 0.044, P = 0.004, percentile 95% CI = [0.014, 0.085]; b = 0.044, P = 0.005, percentile 95% CI = [0.010, 0.102]), and (3) the chain mediating role of SSE and RHD (b = 0.030, P = 0.003, percentile 95% CI = [0.011, 0.059]; b = 0.047, P = 0.003, percentile 95% CI = [0.015, 0.103]). The similar chain mediating effect in male stoma patients was also found (b = 0.041, P = 0.002, percentile 95% CI = [0.016, 0.080]; b = 0.046, P = 0.004, percentile 95% CI = [0.011, 0.114]).

CONCLUSIONS

Stoma self-efficacy and readiness for hospital discharge played important intermediary roles in the relationship between quality of discharge teaching and health-related quality of life in colorectal cancer patients with stomas. Health care providers can design SSE-enhancing and RHD-enhancing discharge planning for colorectal cancer patients with temporary enterostomies.

The clarification of the concept of colostomy nursing care in ostomy care centers: A concept analysis through Walker and Avant's method

BACKGROUND

Specialist nurses need to have an accurate understanding of colostomy care-related concepts to provide care. Although patients with different types of ostomy have different types of needs, terms such as ostomy care, colostomy care, and ileostomy nursing are interchangeably used. Moreover, there are limited concept analysis studies into the concept of colostomy nursing care (CNC) in ostomy care centers (OCCs). The aim of this study was to analyze and clarify the concept of CNC in outpatient OCCs.

METHODS AND MATERIAL

This was a concept analysis study. This concept analysis was conducted using Walker and Avant's eight-step method. The online databases were searched until 2022 to retrieve documents on CNC. Finally, 35 articles and four books were included in the analysis, the defining attributes, antecedents, and consequences of the concepts were determined, and model and additional cases as well as empirical referents were presented.

RESULTS

The defining attributes of CNC in OCCs are the development of professional role, participatory practice and interdisciplinary care, selection of the best clinical procedures, care based on patient education, and patient rehabilitation. The antecedents of the concept are nurse-related antecedents, patient- and family-related antecedents, environmental antecedents, and professional rules and regulations. Its consequences are patients' and families' greater care-related knowledge, improvement of nurses' care quality, patient autonomy, and self-efficacy.

CONCLUSION

The concept of CNC in OCCs can be defined as "a continuous and coherent care based on knowledge, skill, expertise, experience, and colostomy type which uses interdisciplinary collaboration and the best available evidence in order to select and provide the best services according to patients' and families' culture and background, fulfill patients' physical, mental, sexual, social, and spiritual needs, and timely refer patients to specialists, with the ultimate goal of improving patient autonomy and facilitating their return to normal life."

The experiences of family resilience in patients with permanent colostomy and their spouses: A dyadic qualitative study

PURPOSE

With the prolonged survival time of patients with permanent colostomy for colorectal cancer, they and their spouses face tremendous pressure and development dilemmas that can easily lead to family adaptation crises. This qualitative study amid to explore the dyadic experiences of family resilience among Chinese patients with permanent colostomy and their spouses.

METHODS

A phenomenological research method was adopted. Semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews with 10 dyads of patients with permanent colostomy and their spouses were recruited through purposive sampling from a public tertiary hospital in China from March 2023 to July 2023.The Dyadic interview analysis and Colaizzi methods were used to analyze the interview data.

RESULTS

Three themes and nine subthemes were developed. (1) family crisis and dichotomous coping with stress-family crisis and coping pressure caused by enterostomy; (2) Adjustment and adaptation within the family-Joint adjustment and adaptation within the couple's family; and (3) integration and utilization of multi-dimensional social external resources (micro-level, meso-level, and macro-level).

CONCLUSIONS

Couples living with permanent colostomy often undergo a complex emotional journey, experiencing varied levels of individual stress as they navigate social interactions and daily activities, which can contribute to a decline in family adaptation. With the help of the perspective of family advantage, health practitioners should pay attention to the evaluation of individual factors and family environmental resources, to fully mobilize advantage resources and give effective interventions to improve the family and social adaptation level of patients and their spouses.

The Effect of Education Via Videoconferencing at Home on Individuals' Self-efficacy and Adaptation to Life with a Stoma: A Randomized Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of education via videoconferencing at home on individuals' self-efficacy and adaptation to life with a stoma.

METHODS

A randomized controlled experimental study was conducted between November 2021 and July 2022 in an education and research hospital (face-to-face) and at the homes of individuals with a stoma (online). The study sample consisted of 60 individuals with a stoma: 30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. Study data were collected using the Individuals with Stoma Identification Form, Stoma Self-efficacy Scale (SSES), and Ostomy Adjustment Inventory-23 (OAI-23). After discharge, participants in the experimental group received educational booklets and education on stoma care in four video conference sessions. The authors analyzed the data using frequency and percentage distributions, χ2 analyses, independent-sample t tests, Wilcoxon tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between the median pretest SSES and OAI-23 scores and the median posttest SSES and OAI-23 scores in the experimental group. At the end of the study, more individuals in the experimental group cared for their own stoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The education provided to individuals with a stoma significantly increased their self-efficacy and stoma adaptation scores. Hence, providing structured, continuous education on stoma care by nurses and using videoconferencing as an education method are recommended.

The impact of restorative proctectomy versus permanent colostomy on health-related quality of life after rectal cancer surgery using the patient-generated index

BACKGROUND

The impact of bowel dysfunction versus colostomy on quality of life after rectal cancer surgery is poorly understood.

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the quality of life after rectal cancer surgery in patients with colostomy versus restorative proctectomy.

METHODS

A mixed-methods study measuring quality of life using the Patient-Generated Index, patients were asked to list up to 5 areas of their life affected by their surgery. Areas were then weighted according to patients' preferences for improvement to generate a score from 0-100. The areas reported by patients were linked to the International Classification of Functioning for content analysis. Bowel dysfunction was measured using the low anterior resection syndrome score, and patients were then grouped according to (1) colostomy, (2) no/minor, or (3) major low anterior resection syndrome. Quality of life was compared between groups.

RESULTS

Overall, 121 patients were included (colostomy n = 39, restorative proctectomy n = 82). There were no differences in demographics, neoadjuvant radiotherapy, or time to follow-up between groups. In the restorative proctectomy group, 53% had no/minor, and 47% had major low anterior resection syndrome. Overall, patients with colostomy had significantly lower quality-of-life scores than those with restorative proctectomy. However, patients with major low anterior resection syndrome scored similarly to those with colostomy. On content analysis, patients with colostomies reported more problems with sexual function, body image, and sports. Patients with restorative proctectomy reported more problems with sleep, using transportation, and taking care of themselves.

CONCLUSION

Colostomy has a more detrimental impact on quality of life than restorative proctectomy. However, bowel dysfunction severity is important to consider. The patient experience between treatments differs.

Experience of providing care to a family member with Crohn's disease and a temporary stoma: A qualitative study

Objectives

The aim of this study is to understand the feelings and experiences of the main caregivers of temporary ostomy patien ts with Crohn's disease (CD). And explore the caregivers' inner feelings, to provide reference and basis for constructing the health education content of the main caregivers of CD patients with a temporary stoma.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive approach was used to conduct an unstructured interview among 11 primary caregivers of CD patients with temporary enterostomy from the gastroenterology department of The Second Hospital of Nanjing. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected between July 2021 and September 2021. The interviews were audio recorded and then transcribed for a qualitative thematic analysis.

Results

Five themes and accompanying subthemes were identified: (1) negative psychological experience (2) perceived caregiver burden (3) future uncertainty (4) disease benefit (5) insufficien support system.

Conclusions

Study findings suggest that caregivers of CD temporary enterostomy patients have problems such as negative psychology, heavy caregiver burden, uncertain future, lack of support system, etc., but they also have positive experience of feeling of benefit from the disease, and are eager to obtain more disease information from more channels.Therefore, medical staff should improve their professionalism and health education capabilities, carry out diversified and targeted health education activities to reduce the burden of care, stimulate positive caregiver responses and help caregivers respond to and deal with caregiving problems in a timely and accurate manner.

Effect of hospital-based case management on psychosocial wellbeing and treatment outcomes in colorectal cancer patients: A quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND

Case management has been regarded as the front line of necessary change for fragmented healthcare system.

AIM

This study proposed a case management intervention that is suitable for Chinese colorectal cancer patients and explored its effectiveness over a 12-month follow-up.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study was conducted in an oncology hospital in China. A total of 188 patients were recruited from May 2015 to February 2017; 85 patients in the control group and 80 patients in the intervention group were included in data analysis. The intervention group was managed for 1 year by a case manager who organized the multidisciplinary team, provided regular assessment, a consulting service and referrals. Quality of life, anxiety and depression, symptom distress, treatment adherence and unplanned readmission rates were measured.

RESULTS

Repeated measurement ANOVA showed significant intervention and time effects in global quality of life, anxiety and depression, symptom distress and oral chemotherapy adherence. The intervention group showed statistically significantly better overall treatment adherence and lower unplanned readmission rate.

CONCLUSION

Nurse-led case management was effective in improving psychosocial outcomes, treatment adherence and unplanned readmission rate of colorectal cancer patients. A case management model is feasible and effective in colorectal cancer patients and in hospital-dominated healthcare systems where primary care is underutilized.

The Progress of Social Isolation in Patients with Enterostomy during Discharge Transition Period

In terms of social and psychological health of enterostomy patients during hospitalization and discharge transition period, the degree of social isolation in patients during discharge transition period is higher than that during hospitalization period, which is usually manifested by poor self-perception of body image changes. Self-esteem (shame) frustration, severe negative emotions, low psychosocial adjustment, and other factors are closely related to postoperative complications, coping self-efficacy, social support level, family living conditions, and other influencing factors. This is an important reason why patients are difficult to adapt to ostomy life and low quality of life. At present, it is believed that the social isolation related evaluation scale can be used to understand the status quo of patients with social isolation and provide nursing guidance, so as to better cope with the adverse medical outcomes caused by social isolation.

Symptom clusters in patients with colorectal cancer after colostomy: a longitudinal study in Shanghai

Objective

Research is lacking regarding the experiences of patients after colostomy, which is needed so as to take necessary specific actions. In this study, we aimed to describe the trajectory of symptom clusters experienced by patients after colostomy over time.

Methods

This was a longitudinal observational study using data from 149 patients with colorectal cancer after colostomy. We investigated symptoms and symptom clusters at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after colostomy.

Results

Four main symptom clusters were identified, including a psychological symptom cluster, digestive and urinary symptom cluster, lack of energy symptom cluster, and pain symptom cluster in patients after colostomy in the first year after surgery. We further explored the symptom trajectory.

Conclusions

We explored symptom clusters and the trajectory of symptom resolution in patients after colostomy during the first year after surgery. Four stages were proposed to describe the different statuses of symptom clusters experienced by patients. Our findings may provide insight into how to improve symptom management and postoperative quality of life for patients after colostomy.

Emotional state and cancer-related self-efficacy as affecting resilience and quality of life in kidney cancer patients: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between resilience and quality of life (QOL) of kidney cancer patients, including influencing factors.

METHODS

Based on a cross-sectional study design, participants (N = 103) were recruited from patients who were admitted to the urology clinic of a medical center in Taiwan between April 2020 and January 2021. Data collection was accomplished via a questionnaire. The study variables included demographic information, disease attributes, happiness level, depression, cancer-related self-efficacy, resilience, and QOL. One-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, independent-sample t-tests, hierarchical regression, and process analysis were the statistical methods used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Kidney cancer patients who were less depressed exhibited better cancer-related self-efficacy and have better resilience. In non-depressed individuals, higher levels of happiness and better resilience resulted in better QOL. Resilience is a mediator that affects the relationship between depression and QOL.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with better emotional state experience better resilience and QOL. Patients' better cancer-related self-efficacy is related to better resilience while better resilience is associated with better QOL. Clinical care providers need to evaluate and improve cancer-related self-efficacy, emotional state, and resilience of kidney cancer patients, which will improve their resilience and QOL.

"Living with a Stoma": Exploring the Lived Experience of Patients with Permanent Colostomy

INTRODUCTION

Living with a permanent colostomy brings severe changes in patients' lives. The general health status as well as the personal, social and professional life of patients are significantly affected.

AIM

The aim of the present study was to investigate the lived experience of patients undergoing permanent colostomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A qualitative research design based on interpretive phenomenology was carried out. Semi-structured interviews were conducted as the data collection method to obtain in-depth information regarding the research topic. The study sample consisted of eight (8) patients who had undergone a permanent colostomy. The data analysis was performed by the method of content analysis.

RESULTS

From the analysis of the data, three main themes emerged, namely: (A) Experiencing a traumatic event; (B) Living a new reality; (C) Efforts to improve quality of life. Five subthemes were formulated which were encompassed within the respective main themes accordingly.

CONCLUSION

Patients with permanent colostomy face significant life changes that are experienced in a traumatic way. Issues such as autonomy, family and organizational support, self-management and empowerment can significantly improve the patients' quality of life. Further research, regarding caregivers' experience, improved community nursing care as well as nurses' views on the needs of colostomy patients and their families, is suggested.