Effects of a Support Group Intervention on Adaptation to Ostomy, Quality of Life, and Complication Severity in Patients With an Ostomy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of a support group intervention on the adaptation to an ostomy, health-related quality of life, and severity of ostomy complications in patients with intestinal ostomies.

DESIGN

Non-randomized comparison cohort study.

SUBJECTS AND

SETTING

The sample comprised 65 participants; 34 received routine care following ostomy surgery. Thirty-one participants in the intervention group received routine ostomy care and participated in a support group. The mean age of the control subjects was 53.67 (SD 13.07 years); the mean age of intervention group participants was 54.52 (SD 15.2) years. The study was conducted in the Wound and Stoma Therapy Unit of the Dokuz Eylul University Hospital General Surgery Clinic and Polyclinic in Izmir, Turkey. Data were collected from November 1, 2017 and June 30, 2019.

METHODS

Data were gathered via a form designed for purposes of this study. The form queried sociodemographic and relevant clinical data including ostomy type. The form also incorporated 3 validated instruments, the Pittman Ostomy Complication Severity Index (Pittman OCSI), Ostomy Adjustment Scale (OAS), and City of Hope Quality of Life-Ostomy instrument (COHQOL-O). The intervention group attended support group sessions, whereas the control group received routine follow-up.

RESULTS

The percentage of males in the control group was 85.3% (N = 29), 73.5% (N = 25) had a temporary stoma, 50% (N = 17) had a colostomy, and 70.6% (N = 24) had surgery 2 months prior to data collection. A majority of the intervention group 74.2% (N = 23) was male, 80.6% (N = 25) had a temporary stoma, and 45.2% (N = 14) had a colostomy; 67.7% (N = 21) underwent ostomy surgery 2 months prior to data collection. Although there was no statistically significant difference in baseline data between the groups in terms of adaptation to ostomy, quality of life, and severity of ostomy complications scores a significant difference was noted between the groups after the support group intervention. As compared with the control group, the intervention group had significantly higher total mean scores on the COHQOL-O, OAS and Pittman OCSI from the first follow-up and second follow-up following the support group intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Study findings suggest that the support group intervention improves quality of life in patients living with an ostomy, increases adaptation to an ostomy, and reduces the severity of complications. A support group intervention may enhance the quality of the care provided in the clinic to patients with an ostomy and should be included in routine nursing care.