Interventions targeting quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer and a fecal ostomy: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing fecal ostomy surgery often struggle to adapt to life, particularly when the surgery is performed for colorectal cancer. Maladaptation to life with an ostomy is associated with psychosocial challenges that affect daily quality of life (QoL). The aim of this systematic review was to identify interventions that address the self-care education and psychosocial needs of patients with colorectal cancer living with an ostomy and to examine their efficacy and effectiveness.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, American Psychological Association PsycInfo, Cochrane Clinical Trials, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, and Web of Science on September 10, 2025. Randomized controlled trials, prospective cohort studies, case studies, and retrospective studies of tested interventions used before or after ostomy surgery with a specific focus on patients with colorectal cancer were included. Patient-reported outcomes, including QoL, were summarized.

RESULTS

A total of 14 of the 21 included studies reported a positive outcome in QoL for the intervention group. The remaining studies reported mixed results or did not use validated QoL measures. Several studies used additional resources, such as trained nurses. No study reported harm associated with the intervention.

CONCLUSION

Interventions designed to improve QoL in patients with colorectal cancer after ostomy surgery showed promising improvements in patient-centered outcomes; however, these interventions are resource-intensive. Most studies reported improved QoL or no harm. Future work is needed to understand the scalability of these interventions to better support this patient population.