Determining the perceptions of individuals with stoma and their spouses towards their bodies

This study has been conducted as cross-sectional descriptive for the purpose of determining the perceptions of individuals with stoma and their spouses towards their bodies. The study was conducted with 60 monitored individuals with stoma and their spouses between March 1, 2012 and May 31, 2012 at the Gazi University, Health Practice and Research Center Stomatherapy Unit. Data pertaining to individuals with stoma were collected with the ?data collection form for individuals with stoma? and the data of spouses were collected with the ?data collection form for spouses of individuals with stoma?. The data were obtained through face to face interviews lasting 35-40 minutes with individuals with stoma and their spouses at times suitable for them. The data was digitized with the SPSS 15 package program and in the analysis of the data, percentile, Mann Whitney U, Bonferroni correction Kruskal Wallis H test was applied. In the study it was determined that the body perceptions of individuals with stoma are mid-level and that the diagnosis leading to the stoma opening, the stoma type, physical and psychosocial problems, consulting the opinion of spouses regarding stoma openings, participation of spouses in care, and relations between spouses have an impact on the perception of spouses towards the body of the individual with stoma and the perception of individuals with stoma towards their bodies. In line with results obtained in the study, it is recommend that in stomatherpay units activities for positively developing the body perceptions of individuals with stoma should be planned and spouses should participate in these activities. Key Words: stoma, individuals with stoma, body perception, spouses of individuals with stoma