Quality of life of stoma patients after colorectal surgery and possibilities of its improvement
Plata, K.; Majewski, W.ło.
Annales Academiae Medicae Stetinensis 54(2): 77-85
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1427-440X PMID: 19374236 Document Number: 616510
It is widely known that quality of life of patients after colorectal surgery with creation of stoma substantially deteriorates. In this instance it seems interesting to assess if it is improving in time and what measures are to be undertaken to achieve such improvement. Aims to assess changes in quality of life of patients after colorectal surgery with creation of a stoma, in 3 and 6 months after intervention, and establish possibility of improvement of quality of life in these patients. A group of 84 patients 36 men and 48 women after colorectal cancer surgery with creation of a stoma was investigated by means of a standardized questionnaire EORTC QLQ C-30 (version 2.0), filled 3 and 6 months after intervention. Questions about possibilities of improvement of their quality of life were also posed. Compared with representatives of general population, quality of life of investigated group 3 months after surgery was substantially inferior, in almost all items: functional domains and symptomatic ones as well. After 6 months substantial improvement in patients was revealed in functional domains such as physical functioning and fulfilling their role. However improvement of quality of life was observed in majority of items but it did not achieve the level of healthy population. Results achieved in male group which were inferior to results achieved by women after 3 months, exceeded the women' score after 6 months in many aspects. The improvement was influenced by acquaintance of patients with stoma, and by acquiring knowledge about stoma care which were considered low after 3, and after 6 months. Quality of life substantially lower after intervention resulting in stoma formation, improves after 6 months, however there are still deteriorations in private and social life, and financial situation. An adequate education of patients in pre- and postoperative time and active informative support is mandatory to obtain some degree of improvement of their quality of life.