Perceived Stigma and Self-Efficacy of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Related Stoma in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Development and validation of a scale to measure the care needs of Crohn's disease patients: a mixed-methods study

BACKGROUND

Crohn's disease (CD) patients require varying levels of supportive care. In order to facilitate caregivers and nurses in precisely evaluating the caregiving requirements of these patients, we developed the CD-specific Care Needs Scale (CD-CNS).

METHODS

This study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The initial items of the scale were developed through qualitative interviews, Delphi expert consultation, and literature review, while the final items were refined through clinical testing. Qualitative interviews were conducted based on the supportive care needs framework and Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and scale items were constructed through a literature search and qualitative interviews. The initial version of the scale with 45 items was obtained after the items were verified and modified by expert consultation. A total of 250 CD patients admitted to the gastroenterology department of a hospital in China were selected for verification of the initial version of the scale. A self-designed general questionnaire was used to obtain patients' medical history and sociodemographic data, and the Chinese version of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) was used as the criterion. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on the CD-CNS to evaluate the dimensions, factor structure, reliability, criterion validity, and construct validity.

RESULTS

EFA identified 5 dimensions and retained 27 items with strong internal consistency reliability (α = 0.940). The Cronbach's α coefficients for each dimension ranged from 0.824 to 0.921. Criterion validity was assessed using Spearman's coefficient, which demonstrated a significant correlation with the IBDQ (P < 0.050). The test-retest reliability for each dimension after two weeks ranged from 0.655 to 0.895.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed and validated a new scale that can be used to assess the care needs of CD patients. This new tool can guide the specific supportive care of CD patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Hospital of Nanjing (2021-LS-ky-022). The study was duly registered and approved online through the Trial Center of the Second Hospital of Nanjing in 2021. Confidentiality was ensured by anonymizing all the data. The entire study process was conducted under the supervision of the Ethics Committee of Nanjing Second Hospital. Informed consent was obtained from the patients, and each patient volunteered and agreed to participate.

The effect of stoma self-efficacy of people with stoma on their sexual function and satisfaction

AIM

The aim of this research is to determine the effect of stoma self-efficacy of people with stoma on their sexual function and satisfaction.

METHOD

This descriptive research was carried out between November 2022 and May 2023. One hundred and forty people with stoma were included in the research. A descriptive information form, a visual analogue scale (VAS) for satisfaction with sexual life, the Stoma Self-Efficacy Scale (Stoma SE) and the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) were used for the research.

RESULTS

According to the findings of the research, it was established that 90% of the participants had sexual dysfunction according to the ASEX. The average VAS satisfaction with sexual life score was 2.77 ± 3.19, the average Stoma SE Total score was 76.26 ± 19.63 and the average ASEX score was 21.62 ± 7.88. The VAS-satisfaction with sexual life score of the participants had a positive relationship with the social self-efficacy score and a negative relationship with the ASEX score. There was a negative relationship between the social self-efficacy score and the ASEX score of the participants. It has been determined that the social self-efficacy scores of the participants affect their ASEX and VAS-satisfaction with sexual life scores.

CONCLUSION

Development of care self-efficacy is as critical as the development of social self-efficacy for people with stoma. Development of social self-efficacy by people with stoma can contribute to their sexual function and satisfaction with sexual life.

The effect of self-efficacy levels of patients with intestinal stoma on stoma adaptation

OBJECTION

This study was conducted to examine the effect of self-efficacy levels on stoma adaptation in patients with intestinal stoma.

METHODS

The study was planned as descriptive and analytical and was carried out in the university adult hospital general surgery stoma and wound care unit. Sixty-two patients with intestinal stoma who met the admission criteria were included in the study. Ethics committee approval, institutional permission and patient consent were obtained for the study. Data were collected from June to September 2021 using the Descriptive Feature Information Form, the Self Efficacy Scale for Individuals with Ostomy, and the Ostomy Adjustment Inventory (OAI-23). Data were analyzed by number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Mann Whitney U, t test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and linear regression analysis tests.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients with intestinal stoma who participated in our study was 53.12 ± 12.30 years; 71% of them were women, 83.9% were married, and 32.2% were primary and secondary school graduates. The duration of stoma was 8.45 ± 4.69 months, 80.6% of them were opened due to cancer, and 54.8% of them had temporary colostomy. There was a weak and significant correlation between the duration of stoma of the patients and their self-efficacy and stoma adaptation, and as their self-efficacy levels increased, their stoma adaptation increased (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Self-efficacy is one of the important factors affecting patients' adaptation with the stoma. For this reason, it is recommended to plan trainings to support the self-efficacy levels of patients and to conduct interventional studies in this direction.

The Pervasive Impact of the Stigmatization of Gastrointestinal Diseases-A Patient's Perspective

Stigma is a centuries-old phenomenon that pervades chronic digestive diseases, regardless of classification. Patients with gastrointestinal (GI) illness perceive others hold stigmatizing beliefs about them and their illness, including from medical professionals, and may go on to internalize or believe these negative stereotypes as true. These perceptions seem to be based on the thought that the public views GI diseases negatively. The effects of GI stigma are substantial and influence quality of life, psychological distress, treatment adherence, disease severity, and health-care utilization. These realities underscore the need for stigma to be addressed by the GI community and measures taken to mitigate its impacts.