This study aimed to examine the association between support garment use, comfort, and early stoma complications among individuals living with a stoma. This descriptive and comparative study was conducted with 132 adults who had undergone stoma surgery at least one month prior. Data were collected through face to face interviews using a patient identification and stoma complications follow up form and the General Comfort Questionnaire–Short Form. Descriptive statistics and comparative analyses were performed to evaluate differences between individuals who used support garments and those who did not. Among the participants, 25.8% reported using support garments, most commonly stoma belts (70.5%). No statistically significant differences were observed between support garment users and non users in terms of demographic or clinical characteristics. Early stoma complications, including irritant dermatitis, parastomal hernia, and mucocutaneous separation, did not differ significantly between the groups. The overall mean comfort score was high (Mean = 4.55, SD = 0.86). Participants who used support garments both during the day and at night reported higher comfort scores than those who used them only during the day; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Support garment use was not associated with statistically significant differences in comfort levels or early stoma complications. Nevertheless, when appropriately selected and used, support garments may contribute to perceived security and physical comfort as part of individualized stoma care. These findings support a tailored rather than a routine approach to support garment recommendations in clinical practice.
KOCA et al. (Mon,) studied this question.