87% of ostomates feel fear of a stoma, and more than half change their life plans, the results of the survey Medical staff on the comfort of life of ostomates, conducted among nurses, show. The results of the study showed that only 49% of patients are always educated about the consequences of stoma surgery prior to surgery. The StomaLife campaign is the answer to the needs of stoma dentists. Discover the stoma.
Ostomy surgery is performed as a result of gastrointestinal diseases that are becoming an increasingly common medical problem. Colorectal cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Poland, but thanks to the development of medicine, it has become curable. However, more and more often it is recommended to have a stoma temporarily, and therefore the number of stomas, which is currently estimated at around 40 in Poland, is constantly growing. For this reason, it is important to work on solving the problem of social exclusion and on improving the quality of life of ostomates.
Although the problems of ostomates have already been discussed in the media, there is the Polish Ostomy Society POL-ILKO and stoma clinics, there is still low public awareness of the stoma in Poland. Data from the report “Medical staff on the comfort of life for ostomates” show that 53% of patients change their life plans. Such an attitude proves the lack of knowledge that after the surgery one can function normally in society, lead an active lifestyle and fulfill one’s dreams.
The aim of the “StomaLife. Discover the stoma ”is to break the taboo associated with the stoma. Through appropriate educational activities, the initiative aims to build understanding and social support for stomics and help to activate them.
As part of the campaign, in addition to the report “Medical staff on the comfort of life of ostomates”, a study will also be carried out, in which the stomas themselves will be able to comment on the quality of their lives. The website www.stomalife.pl has also been prepared, where stomics can find a number of guide materials, follow the news and activities undertaken as part of the campaign, and share their history and experience, which will become a source of support for others. Training activities aimed at medical staff are also planned to help solve the problem of insufficient patient education.
Social exclusion is a serious problem faced by the stoma environment. To solve it, extensive educational activities are needed, covering not only the ostomates themselves, but also medical staff and the public. Increasing public acceptance plays a key role in the fight against exclusion. It can only be achieved through appropriate information activities that will break the taboo related to the stoma and change the negative attitudes of their recipients – said Andrzej Piwowarski, president of the Polish Stoma Society POL-ILKO.
The organizers of the campaign are: Polish Ostomy Society POL-ILKO, Fundacja im. Dr. Maciej Hilgier and the Polish Society for Supporting People with Nonspecific Intestinal Inflammation J-elita. The medical partner is SALTS POLSKA Sp. z o. o
The report was prepared by SmartNet Research & Solutions. The analysis covered 309 people. The study was conducted on a group of nurses who have contact with people with a stoma in their work. It was in the form of a paper questionnaire with closed and semi-open questions, single or multiple choice. The study was conducted in the second half of 2013.