Paper 3 Citation: Krouse et al.

 

Quality of life outcomes in 599 cancer and non-cancer patients with colostomies

 

J Surgical Research. 2007;138:79-87.

Abstract:

This study compares quality of life issues between ostomy patients with or without cancer. Of the 599 survey respondents, 517 had cancer-related ostomies. Most characteristics were similar between the groups with the exception of gender. There were proportionately higher numbers of women in the non-cancer group. Colostomies were primarily an intervention for colorectal cancers in the cancer group and inflammatory bowel disease in the non-cancer group. The colostomy experience was a mean of 8 years in the non-cancer group and 10 years in the cancer group. Many similarities were seen in factors that affected quality of life between the groups. The non-cancer group experienced a lower quality of life in three of the domains, including physical, psychological, and social well-being. Differences between the groups in adjusting to living with a colostomy included more fatigue and loss of strength, aches and pain, sleep problems, anxiety, family distress, dietary restrictions, and perception of financial burden in the non-cancer group. The authors concluded that the cancer group appeared to adjust better to life with a colostomy, which may be associated with a higher quality of life at baseline compared to the non-cancer group.