Exploring the Relationship Between Resilience and Ostomy Adjustment in the Adult with a Permanent Stoma

Purpose:  To describe the relationships between resilience and ostomy adjustment in adults with permanent stomas to determine if participants who report higher levels of resilience also report higher levels of ostomy adjustment to the presence of a permanent stoma.

Subjects and Setting:  Participants in this study were 18 years and older, could read and write in English, and had permanent stomas. They were recruited from ostomy support groups on the East coast of the United States.  Those with temporary stomas were excluded. 

Methods: A descriptive, correlational research design utilizing the Roy Adaptation model as the theoretical framework was used in this study. The relationships between levels of resilience, levels of adjustment to an ostomy, and demographic characteristics were examined.  A demographic questionnaire, the Resilience Scale, and Ostomy Adjustment Inventory-23 (OAI-23) was used for data collection.  

Results:  Strong, significant relationships were found between the OAI-23 scale and subscales and the Resilience Scale and subscales. Participants who reported higher levels of ostomy adjustment had higher levels of resilience than those who reported lower levels of ostomy adjustment. Results support promoting high levels of resilience in patients who have permanent stomas.

Conclusions  Nurses should utilize strategies to promote high levels of resilience in patients with permanent stomas to facilitate adjustment.

 

Key Words:  ostomy adaptation, resilience, self-care, Roy Adaptation model