Psychological, sexual and cultural issues for patients with a stoma

Patients undergoing stoma surgery will more readily adapt to their new body image and way of life if they receive professional and voluntary input from the ostomy agencies such as the British Colostomy Association, from the preoperative stage through to rehabilitation and their return to the community. Nursing has moved away from mechanistic, task-oriented care to holistic care and, apart from the physical changes that a stoma will cause, there are other areas to be considered to improve the patient's quality of life after surgery. Patients undergoing stoma surgery experience a profound threat to their sense of physical integrity and self-concept with the change of body image in relation to bodily functions. Sexuality is an integral part of the whole person and is a highly complex phenomenon. Many patients find it difficult to discuss their sexual feelings, especially after a body image change and the nurse should be able to help patients identify and adapt to alterations in sexual self-concept. Cultural background plays an important part in patients' lives, including their beliefs, whether personal or religious, their perceptions of recovery, behaviour and concepts of and attitude towards the disease process. Nurses must combine sound, general information with open, respectful questions to the patient or family and be committed to responding flexibly and constructively. This article describes some of the potential problems that may be faced by patients after stoma surgery and increased knowledge of these areas will allow nurses to improve patient care and satisfaction.