A new life with a bag on the belly! How does the patient experience and handle the pre-operative period prior to an ostomy operation?

Aim:

The aim of the study is to increase the understanding of the experiences and needs of the ostomy patient prior to an ostomy operation.

The information received by the individual patient and his or her actual experience of reality, as well as conceptual considerations on the impact of the ostomy on life in general, form the focus of this study of patients within the themes:

• Decision on an operation
• Coping with the situation
• The up-coming operation

Design:

The empirical material will be collected through a descriptive, qualitative study of  7 women and 5 men between the age of  24 and 85. Method:

Data has been collected prior to the ostomy operation by using a combination of

·        a diary kept for 2-6 weeks prior to the operation, and

·        semi-structured, individual interviews made a few days prior to the operation Conclusion:

The study has shown that patients who are about to have an ostomy go through a crisis period with personal conflicts in the pre-operative phase.

Thoughts of the future ostomy fill up a lot of the patients’ lives, but are at the same time of a very abstract character. The experienced change in their body construction is radical and has an impact on

• body image
• basic functions of the body, and
• sexuality.

The individual has a need to find a meaning with having an ostomy, and to believe that life quality can be maintained in the new life with an ostomy. The most important factors in deciding on an ostomy and in coping with the situation is

• preliminary information and conversation with a doctor
• the course of support and guidance with an Enterostomal Therapist, and
• emotional support and trust within the social network.