Risks for depression among ostomates in South Korea

This study explored the factors that are associated with the depressive status among older adult ostomates in South Korea.

The study was a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional study with 217 ostomates who were aged ≥55 years from September 2, 2013 to October 30, 2013. The general characteristics, daily routines, and depressive status were assessed in order to identify the factors that were contributing to a depressed mood among the older adult ostomates in South Korea. The general characteristics included their sex, age group, educational level, financial status, employment, outing hours, perceived social isolation, leisure activity, and perceived health status. The daily routines included living environment inconvenience, leisure activity satisfaction, body image satisfaction, sleep satisfaction, exercise involvement, intimacy with a spouse, sexual satisfaction, and satisfaction with quality of life.

The prevalence of depressive status in older adult ostomates was 50.7%, but 40.8% in the same-age population without an ostomy. The factors that were associated with a depressed mood among the older adult ostomates in South Korea were social isolation, perceived poor health status, perceived low quality of life, dissatisfaction with leisure activities, and poor financial status. The participants' sex, age, and educational level were not associated with depression.

Nurses need to encourage older adults with an ostomy to reduce their social isolation and to increase leisure activities by helping them to use resources, such as support groups and psychological support, in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members.