Quality of life in ostomized patients

Ostomized patients usually have some concerns such as absence of sphincter control, noisy bowel movements, changes in passage of gas, social discomfort due to odors, concerns about bag filling, peristomal and skin irritation as well as psychological changes such as body image distortion, among others, that will determine quality of life. We undertook this study to measure quality of life in ostomized patients attending the Coloproctology Unit in Hospital General de México.

We carried out a cross-sectional descriptive study from January 1, 2009 to May 29, 2009 in ostomized patients. Two scales were used to determine quality of life. The first was quality of life SF-36 (version 2) with 36 items that measured eight aspects. The other scale used was the Montreux scale.

For the Montreux scale, quality of life section, a range between 60.8 and 81.2 points was obtained. The results obtained with the quality of life scale SF36 were as follows: physical function, 67.04; physical role, 56.06; physical pain, 68.28; general health, 57.16; with an overall average of 62.14 points. For mental aspects, results were as follows: vitality, 68.37; social function, 71.53; emotional role, 71.48; and mental health, 68.67; with an overall average of 70.01 points.

Quality of life of subjects included was classified as good. Fear of stoma leaks and sexual function were the aspects that most affected the patients, and those are responsible for a decrease in quality of life in this study.