Self-Care Experiences of Patients Who Have Recently Undergone Colostomy: A Qualitative Study

AIM

This study explored the postoperative self-care experiences of patients who underwent colostomy in Indonesia.

DESIGN

A qualitative study with a cross-sectional and descriptive design.

METHODS

Through purposive sampling, we enrolled 20 patients (men, n=14) who had undergone colostomy in Indonesia. In 2020, in-person interviews were conducted to collect data for content analysis.

RESULTS

Content analysis revealed six themes: primary stressors, secondary stressors, coping style, family support, outcome expectations, and professional resources. Patients who have undergone colostomy often experience challenges (primary and secondary stressors) in fulfilling their self-care needs. They can overcome these challenges through personal coping strategies and family support. The patients also require that professional resources meet their expectations.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

This study highlights the real-life experiences of patients living with a colostomy in Indonesia. Their insights provide valuable information on the challenges they face and the coping strategies they use. By understanding their experiences, health-care professionals, policymakers, and the public can develop better support systems, educational programmes, and related resources to improve the quality of life for colostomy patients.

Quality of life of persons with permanent colostomy: a phenomenological study

Objectives To describe the experiences of persons with permanent colostomy regarding their quality of life.

Methods The study design used descriptive phenomenology following the approach of Collaizzi. There were 12 participants who qualified using purposive sampling based on the inclusion criteria.The data generated were in-depth interviews. Analysis and interpretation used verbatim descriptions.

Results The research data revealed seven themes, namely: limitation in daily living activities, limitations in marital relations and social relationship with others, negative feelings about having the colostomy, financial difficulties, increasing demands of living with colostomy, changes in the needs of rest, physical and expectation of complications, and hoping to live a normal life after colostomy.

Conclusion This study revealed that persons with permanent colostomy experience difficulties and limitations pertaining to daily living activities, including marital and social relations. Importantly, they experience psychological concerns, e.g. having negative feelings about ways of living their lives, including financial difficulties and adjusting to new ways of living. However, there is always the hope to live a normal life. This study provides an understanding of the quality of life of persons with permanent colostomy, allowing nurses to provide appropriate nursing care.