[Digestive stomas: which professional impact?]

digestive stomas result from a certain number of surgical interventions. They may be temporary or definitive. The patient with stoma has potentially damaging physical and psychological problems. Therefore patient´s adaptation to the changes and acceptance of this temporary or permanent situation is essential. This study aims to assess the impact of intestinal stomas on patients´ quality of life and professional life.

we conducted a retrospective study from January 2010 to December 2014. During the study period, 115 patients had intestinal stomas. Among these patients, sixty were of working age, had a fixed employment and had resumed their work; they made up the study population. Data were collected using a specific questionnaire: the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health questionnaire conducted in the post-operative period.

the average score for the overall quality of life for patients with stoma was 41. Forty patients had poor quality of life with a score SF-36 less than 50. Our study showed that patients with stoma experienced difficulties at work. Forty-eight patients reported discomfort directly linked to stoma during their professional activities. The causes mentioned were physical in 6 cases and psychological in 3 cases. Six patients were moved into more adapted working positions.

the management of patients with digestive stomas should aim to an adequate social and professional reintegration. This can only be done by involving the occupational physician, the psychologist, the stoma therapist and the associations.