Patient outcomes and quality of life following stoma-forming surgery

Abstract

For some patients, the formation of a stoma marks the beginning of a long path of treatment, while for others it may come at the end of years of intervention, medication and treatment, and mark a return to a more normal lifestyle. Either way, stoma formation will impact on patients and the way they live their lives. As nurses caring for this group, it is important to consider the problems they face and how they adapt to their new way of living. In this article, Anna Boyles examines the psychosocial impact of stoma formation and its influence on patient outcomes in terms of their self-perception and quality of life.