Altered body image in stoma patients: evaluation through classification of nursing outcomes

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine how satisfied ostomates were with their body image and how well they had adapted to stoma surgery. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study recorded demographic and clinical variables using two body-image indicators from the nursing outcomes classification (NOC) taxonomy ‘Body image’ (NOC 1200): ‘Satisfaction with body appearance’ (NOC 120005) and ‘Adjustment to body changes due to surgery’ (NOC 120014) on a Likert scale. Results: Average satisfaction was 2.80 (SD 0.452) and average adjustment was 3.04 (SD 0.450). Relationships with the variables were not statistically significant but could be observed on a descriptive level. Higher satisfaction and/or adjustment scores were linked to female sex, age over 68 years and not belonging to an ostomy association, as well as an oncological diagnosis, stoma site marking, the postoperative period before follow-up and stoma formation in the past year. Conclusions: Despite a limited sample size of 102 patients, this study has practical implications. It provides a better understanding of the factors that influence body image in ostomates with a colostomy or ileostomy, which should guide stoma care nurses in caring for the needs of patients.