Continuity of care for the stoma patient: psychological considerations

The transition from hospital to home is an important milestone for any patient: having progressed through surgery and early postoperative care, they have now achieved discharge status. Stoma surgery can adversely affect patients' body image, and community nurses need to help such patients adjust to these changes. While most patients welcome returning home they often have mixed feelings concerning how they will cope with their stoma, both physically and psychologically, as do their families. Within a multicultural society, addressing the individual psychological effects of surgery due to acute/chronic illness can be particularly challenging. Continuity of care for these patients is therefore crucial. Effective communication and collaboration between health professionals is key to psychological adaptation and successful rehabilitation. This article seeks to outline the various psychological factors that need to be considered when caring for an ostomate.