Bridging the Knowledge Gap: From In-Patient to Home for the New Ostomy Patient

Purpose:

New ostomy patients are in need of education during the perioperative hospital stay in order to make a smooth transition to home. Clinical experts have developed teaching tools to assist patient with ostomy self-care.  This study was designed to capture the information patients felt was the most useful post discharge.

 Methods:

This IRB approved study used a cross-sectional design to capture information that patients felt was most useful after discharge.  A telephone interview was used to assess the patient’s perception of the usefulness of four self-management categories covered during the education sessions: 1) general ostomy information; 2) resuming activities of daily living (ADL’s); 3) ostomy care; and 4) support for patient and family.  The patient was asked to rank the four self-management categories from most useful to least useful.  The sample consisted of sixty patients 33 male and 27 female who ranged in age from 27 to 76 years old.  The patients were discharged to home and had ostomy surgery performed at the research hospital.  

Analysis:

Descriptive variables included gender, age, ostomy type (colostomy, urostomy or ileostomy), temporary or permanent ostomy, diagnosis (cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, other), presence or absence of pre-op teaching. 

 Results:

Ninety percent of the patients ranked the education category of ostomy self-care the most useful.  Fifty-five percent ranked information on resuming ADL’s the second most useful.  Fifty-five percent ranked general information the third most useful.  Lastly (50 or 83%) ranked ostomy support as the least useful.             

 Conclusions:

Since the category of ostomy self-care ranked highest, patient teaching for the new ostomy patient should focus on this skill set that includes stoma care, how and when to empty and change the pouch.