Individuals with a Permanent Ostomy: Quality of Life, Preoperative Stoma Site Marking by an Ostomy Nurse, Six Peristomal Complications, and Out-of-Pocket Financial Costs for Ostomy Management

Using a quantitative approach, a comparative, descriptive study was conducted using self-report surveys including the City of Hope Quality of Life-Ostomy Questionnaire and a Survey for Demographics. The Roy Adaptation Model was used as a framework and helped guide decisions about the variables to be studied. The dependent variable was quality of life. The independent variables included preoperative stoma site marking by an ostomy nurse, six peristomal complications, and out-of-pocket financial costs for ostomy management.

Data were collected during the United Ostomy Associations of America Second National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, August 5-8, 2009. One hundred forty surveys were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 17.

The findings of the study include: quality of life (QOL) total scores were similar to a normative sample of individuals with a permanent ostomy; preoperative stoma site marking was not significantly associated with QOL total scores above and beyond other variables; increased ratings of financial hardship were associated with decreased QOL total scores after controlling for age and time since last surgery; respondents with irritant contact dermatitis as a complication reported significantly lower QOL total scores than those without irritant contact dermatitis; the number of complications was negatively associated with QOL, so as the number of complications experienced increased, QOL total scores decreased; and those spending between $100 and $500 per month out-of-pocket for ostomy management had significantly lower QOL total scores than both the less than $100 per month and $0 per month group. This study was significant for individuals with a permanent ostomy and nursing practice and may help inform the public and policymakers about some of the issues facing ostomy patients and be used to help assure equal access to ostomy nursing services.