Online Solutions: Closing the Gap in the Continuum of Care

Stoma surgery is a life-altering event, but many people with ostomies and their loved ones have little time to adapt. With increasingly shorter hospital stays, some people are left feeling unprepared to cope with the physical and lifestyle adjustments associated with having a stoma.

Although support services and groups exist to help transition patients when they are discharged, ostomates often continue to have stoma care questions and issues, and educational information is not always readily available. Given the size of the ostomy community, it can also be difficult for them to relate to and connect with people in similar situations. They may prefer to stay anonymous when discussing intimate issues related to their ostomy. Another challenge people can face is how to access information and personal advice during the pre-operative phase from those who already have a stoma. These shared experiences and thoughts can be invaluable as they prepare for and make decisions related to their upcoming surgery.

The Internet is a fast-evolving phenomenon. In the United States, 97 percent of the over-forty age group is seeking out health and wellness information online.¹ Social networking websites also have emerged, where like-minded individuals can meet and connect with people in similar situations. Many different groups have formed online communities to provide a safe and anonymous place for their members to interact.

Lifestyle community websites for ostomates have now surfaced, where people can communicate with one another and provide and/or find information and comfort. This presentation on one such online community, which features the site’s impact on several ostomates, clearly illustrates the ongoing need for information, support and connections.