Quality of care after ostomy surgery: a perspective study of patients

Ostomy surgery affects life on a variety of levels. Clinicians need to facilitate the patient's adaptation to life with a stoma and provide information and support to ease the transition. To prospectively assess ostomy patients' perceptions of the quality of care received as well as the importance they ascribe to care conditions, 49 patients from nine Swedish hospitals completed a postoperative "Quality of Care from the Patient's Perspective" questionnaire modified to include stoma care variables. The questionnaire consists of 49 items covering 17 quality dimensions factors that address medical-technical competence, physical-technical conditions, identity-oriented approach, and socio-cultural atmosphere. The modified version contains an additional 13 ostomy-specific items that have demonstrated face validity. Responses to questions were provided using 4-point scales to assess perceived reality and subjective importance. "Medical treatment" received the highest score on the perceived reality scale; "interest in view-of-life," "care-room characteristics," and "participation" received the lowest scores. On the ostomy-specific section, patients were satisfied with most aspects of care received; "where to get advice and support concerning the ostomy" received the highest score. "Talking about sexuality with the ET nurse" received the lowest score on both perceived reality and subjective importance scales. Although the majority of patients regarded most aspects of care as important and were highly satisfied with the care they received before and following their ostomy surgeries, periodic follow-up will most likely enhance satisfaction and long-term follow-up results may differ from those obtained shortly after surgery.