[Living with a permanent intestinal stoma: changes told by stoma patients]

This study relates to the first part of a study developed with persons with permanent intestinal stomas, assisted in specialized outpatient clinics in Campinas, SP (Brazil), aiming to identify the information provided to these patients about their stoma and their difficulties in living with this device. It was verified that patients received insufficient information concerning the stoma before the surgery, what could have contributed to postoperative fears and difficulties in adaptation to the stoma. Results suggest that nurses should assume their roles as patient educators in the whole preoperative process in order to facilitate improvement of quality of life for the stoma patient.