Anxiety in early period in patients with stoma

Stoma, which is opened in order to treat individuals' disease and maintain their life, can cause not only physiological but also psychological problems. This study is comparative descriptive in nature and it aims at identifying the effects of stoma on anxiety in early period in patients with stoma. Target population of the study was all colostomy and ileostomy patients and other adult patients who had surgical operation during the time the study was conducted in Bezmialem Foundation University Medical Faculty Hospital, Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty Hospital and Istanbul University Istanbul Medical Faculty Neurosurgery service. The participants were 120 patients who met the research criteria. Necessary permissions were obtained from the ethical committee as well as the institution where the study was conducted. The data were collected through a) "Patient Information Form and b) State-trait Anxiety Scale (STAI I-II) which is used with a view to evaluating anxiety level. The patients' anxiety was evaluated one day before the operation and on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th days following the operation. The data were analysed using SPSS 18.0 package programming. Results showed that average age of the patients was 49.7±14.37 years. Of all the patients, 52% was male, 81% was married, and 50% was primary school graduate. State anxiety mean score in the stoma group before surgery was 39,4±3,7 while it was 37,6±3,5 in the surgical group. The difference was found to be statistically significant (p=0,007). Trait anxiety mean score of the stoma group was 44±4,2 before surgery, and state anxiety mean score was 40,3±4,2 after surgery. As for the surgical group, trait anxiety mean score was found 44,6±3,9 before surgery and state anxiety mean score was 39,5±3,4 after surgery; and these mean scores were found to be similar (p>0.05). In conclusion, stoma was found to increase patients' early period anxiety. It is recommended that patients with stoma and their families should be provided with support with a view to helping them to cope with anxiety and to maintain their life more effectively.