Abstract
Purpose: Intestinal stoma formation profoundly changes the relationship between a person and their social world. The aim of this study was to understand the experience of living with a new stoma; this paper explores the theme “disrupted social world,” highlighting how stoma-forming surgery impacts on individuals’ abilities to participate and interact socially over time.
Method: A longitudinal phenomenological approach. Twelve participants with a new stoma were recruited using purposeful sampling. Data were collected at three, nine and 15 months following surgery through in-depth, unstructured interviews and analysed using a bespoke iterative framework.
Results: Three categories were identified: participation in the social environment; interpersonal relationships: changes and challenges; and setting and achieving goals.
Conclusions: Stoma-forming surgery changes the ways people relate to their social environment and connect with others, creating self-consciousness and impeding social confidence and autonomy. Understanding the social implications of stoma-forming surgery can help clinicians to provide responsive and appropriate support to facilitate social rehabilitation.
Assisting people with a stoma to develop competent stoma self-care skills will promote social adaptation and self-acceptance.
Clinicians should promote access to others with a stoma, an important source of support for many people adjusting to a new stoma.
Graded exposure to social participation can engender feelings of control and confidence for people with a stoma.
Clinicians can help individuals with a stoma to set realistic goals for their recovery, while encouraging a range of positive coping strategies.
Implications for Rehabilitation
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to all those who took part in this study and to Dr Barbara Richardson.
Disclosure statement
There are no declarations of interest.