Quality of Life Outcomes in Patients Living with Stoma

BACKGROUND: Despite efforts to maintain the intestinal tissue and treat gastrointestinal disease, a large number of patients undergo ostomy surgery each year. Using stoma reduces the patient's quality of life (QOL) greatly. Although there are approximately 3000 patients in Iran; there is little information about the impact of stoma on their QOL. AIMS: The study aims to evaluate QOL of stoma patients using a special measurement tool. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This survey was a cross-sectional study that was conducted on 102 random samples of stoma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The City of Hope Quality of Life-Ostomy Questionnaire was used for collecting demographic and clinical information and evaluating QOL. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Univariate and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of QOL. RESULTS: The mean score for the overall QOL for stoma patients was 7.48 ± 0.9. 70% of patients were dissatisfied with sexual activities. More than half of them reported feelings of depression following stoma surgery. Univariate analysis indicated that factors such as the type of ostomy (temporary/permanent), the underlying disease that had led to the stoma, depression, problem with location of ostomy, and change in clothing style had significant effects on overall QOL and its subscales (P < 0.05). The results of the regression analyses showed that only depression and problem with the location of ostomy were statistically significant in predicting patients’ QOL and its subscales (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrated that living with stoma influences the overall aspect of QOL. Education for the patients and their families is important for improving the stoma patients’ QOL. Sexual and psychological consultation may also improve patients’ QOL.