Stoma Self-care: Knowledge and Practices among Ostomates with Intestinal Stoma

The objectives of the study were: (1) to assess the knowledge of ostomates regarding self-care of stoma, (2) to assess the practices of ostomates during self-care of stoma, and (3) to find out the association of knowledge of ostomates regarding self-care of stoma with selected clinical and sociodemographic variables.The study was conducted in stoma clinic of selected tertiary care hospitals, New Delhi, India using cross-sectional and descriptive study design. Two hundred and fifty subjects with intestinal stoma were recruited in the study using total enumerative sampling technique. Data were collected using self-structured questionnaire that was developed utilizing an adapted version of the “home management guidelines for stoma care.” Slightly more than half of the subjects (50.4%) had good knowledge regarding self-stoma care. However, 44.8% of subjects had average knowledge regarding stoma self-care, and only 4.8% had poor knowledge regarding self-stoma care. Duration of stoma, status of stoma (whether temporary or permanent), training received regarding stoma care, and subjects linked with stoma group were statistically significant (p < 0.05) in predicting knowledge regarding stoma self-care. The study emphasizes on educational needs of ostomates and recommends developing strategies to meet these needs.