Life with a stoma-coping with daily life: Experiences from focus group interviews

To describe patients' experiences of coping with daily life practically and emotionally during the first years after stoma surgery.

For people with a stoma, a new life awaits with altered bowel function and body image. This means a profound change in a person's life.

A qualitative descriptive design using focus group interviews to gain an understanding of patients' experiences of coping with daily life. This study followed the COREQ checklist for reporting qualitative research.

Six focus groups including 21 patients with a stoma experience of 1-3 years. Mean age was 65 (23-79) and comprised 9 men and 12 women. Thirteen participants had a colostomy, 8 had an ileostomy. The interviews were analysed with a qualitative content analysis.

Patients lived with uncertainty due to lost control over bowel function and did not feel comfortable with the new body. They had adjusted to the new life with a positive impact, by changing their attitude, enabling a social- and working life and tried to take control over the situation. Patients with a temporary stoma put life on hold.

Patients with a stoma lived with uncertainty, not trusting their body like before. They strived to regain control of their lives according to their own resources and conditions and with support from healthcare professionals. Interacting with others in similar situations and exchanging experiences, in demanding areas such as body image, sexuality and social activities could support patients in coping with their new life with a stoma.

The findings can help stoma care nurses and healthcare professionals plan themed lectures and group discussions for patients regarding coping with areas that are especially demanding. A themed evening would give patients the chance to share and exchange experiences and receive affirmation from others in the same situation.