Ostomy Complications and Quality of Life of Ostomy Support Belt/Garment Wearers: A Web-Based Survey

The purpose of this study was to examine ostomy complications and health-related quality of life (QOL) in individuals with an ostomy who wear an ostomy support belt/garment.

A mixed-methods descriptive study.

Two hundred two community-living adults with an ostomy were recruited using an industry distribution list. The target sample had no geographic restrictions.

Descriptive analysis was conducted for all outcomes. Participants were separated into groups depending on type of ostomy belt or belt/garment worn or none. All categorical data were summarized using percentages and numerical data using mean ± standard deviation. Association between categorical factors was evaluated using a χ2 test and proportions of occurrences from 2 groups were compared using a 2-proportion z-test. The mean outcomes for 2 or more groups were compared using t tests or analysis of variance (ANOVA), respectively. If ANOVA showed difference among groups, post hoc analysis of group means was conducted using Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test.

Two hundred two respondents completed the survey. Of the 174 participants who responded to the survey question on leakage, 157 (90%) reported experiencing leakage and 135 (77.59%) reported rash or skin irritation. Comparison of whether participants had ever experienced a leakage event was not significantly different across groups (P = .3663). Those who wore an ostomy support belt/garment reported leakage less often (less than once a month) versus respondents who wore other types of belts or no belt (n = 49, 73.13% vs n = 53, 59.55%; P = .0388). Of the 174 participants who responded to the peristomal skin question, 135 (77.59%) participants reported peristomal skin complications. Significantly fewer participants who wore an ostomy support belt/garment reported having peristomal skin irritation compared to those who wore other types of belts or no belt (69.01% vs 84.16%; P = .0080). The mean cumulative total City of Hope Quality of Life (COH QOL) Ostomy score for all participants was 6.45 ± 1.36 out of 10, with the psychosocial domain scoring the lowest at 5.67 ± 1.30 out of 10. No significant differences were observed in mean QOL domain and total scores by those who wore an ostomy support belt/garment, other type of belt/garment, and none. When comparing COH QOL mean scores and leakage frequency of more/less once a month, those who reported leakage more often had significantly worse QOL scores in all 4 domains as well as total scores: physical (P = .0008), psychological (P = .0154), social (P = .0056), spiritual (P = .0376), and total COH QOL score (P = .0018).

This study provides important information related to ostomy complications and QOL associated with wearing an ostomy belt or belt/garment. The use of an ostomy support belt/garment may offer an additional intervention to decrease frequency of leakage and peristomal skin irritation and improve QOL.