The effect of stoma education class on peristomal dermatitis in colorectal cancer patients with defunctioning ileostomy—a retrospective study of 491 patients

BACKGROUND: Ileostomy was widely used during colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery and peristomal dermatitis was one of the most common stoma-relative complications. Stoma education class may reduce the rate of peristomal dermatitis. METHODS: We enrolled patients who were diagnosed with rectal cancer and underwent surgery with ileostomy between January 2018 to December 2018 at a single tertiary hospital. The general demographic information of patients along with the participation in stoma education class and the occurrence of peristomal dermatitis were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 491 patients were included in the study, and 162 patients (32.99%) participated in the stoma education class. Eighty-five patients (17.31%) suffered peristomal dermatitis within one month after ileostomy. The rate of peristomal dermatitis in the stoma education group was significantly lower than that in the control group (11.11% vs. 20.36%, P=0.011). Regardless of the education level, the risk of peristomal dermatitis in the education group was reduced (P<0.05). Lower peristomal dermatitis rates were found in patients who were younger than 60 years (P=0.012), whose stoma were taken care of by other people (P=0.014), or without diabetes (P=0.026). Univariate and Multivariate analysis showed that stoma education was the only factor associated with the decrease in rates of peristomal dermatitis (OR =0.458, P=0.008), while diabetes was an independent risk factor (OR =3.732, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative stoma education class significantly decreased the rate of peristomal dermatitis in the early postoperative period in CRC patients with ileostomy, especially for those who were younger than 60 years, received stoma care from others or without diabetes.