Food fight: dietary choices made by people after stoma formation

People with colostomies, ileostomies, and urostomies have many similar and some different experiences as they resume eating. In this article, Leanne Richbourg discusses dietary choices following stoma formation. This study employed a cross-sectional, exploratory design with both quantitative and qualitative measures to answer the question, ‘Does having an ostomy affect what is eaten?’ Surveys were received from 301 ostomates, 86 with colostomies, 174 with ileostomies, and 41 with urostomies. The majority of survey respondents (78.7%) did not report that ostomy surgery had a negative effect on their enjoyment of food and drink. However, nearly two thirds (58.1%) of colostomates said that their stoma had an effect on heir food choices and just over two thirds (67.2%) of ileostomates reported that their ileostomy affected their dietary choices. The vast majority (94.6%) of urostomates experienced no significant changes in their relationship with food and fluids.