Exploring Experiences, Perceptions and Preferences for Exercise in Australians Living With a Stoma: A Cross-Sectional...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation science
• Stoma care
• Exercise physiology

Background:

• Many Australians living with a stoma do not meet physical activity recommendations.
• Parastomal hernias are common complications, potentially impacting exercise capacity and confidence.
• Understanding exercise experiences is crucial for improving quality of life in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of core abdominal exercise for Australians with a stoma.
• To determine if parastomal hernias affect symptoms, health status, and exercise recall.
• To assess interest in supervised exercise programs for stoma patients.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, anonymous online survey was conducted with 105 participants.
• Data collected via Likert scales and free-text responses between August and September 2022.
• Logistic regression and Cramer's V analyzed relationships between variables.

Main Results:

• 45.5% of participants had a parastomal hernia.
• Participants with a hernia recalled less exercise advice (15.2%) or demonstration (9.4%).
• Less than a quarter engaged in strengthening (23.8%) or vigorous (22.9%) exercise; fear of exercise and lifting was prevalent.

Conclusions:

• Australians with stomas face barriers to physical activity, with limited recall of healthcare advice on core exercises.
• Fear-avoidance of exercise and heavy lifting is a significant concern.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted healthcare advice and exercise programs for stoma patients in Australia.