Analysis of Longitudinal Trajectory and Influencing Factors of Supportive Care Needs in Colorectal Cancer Patients With Enterostomy

AIMS: The aim of this study was to understand the dynamic changes in the needs of patients with enterostomy during the 3 months after discharge and its possible influencing factors. DESIGN: A prospective observational design. METHODS: This study investigated the supportive care needs of patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery with colostomy in three Chinese hospitals from May 2023 to October 2023 during the 3 months following discharge from the hospital. The growth mix model was used to describe the needs trajectory and analyse the heterogeneity of the trajectory. Univariate analysis was used to find the factors that might affect the heterogeneity of needs trajectory of patients with enterostomy, and then logistic regression analysis was used to determine the influencing factors of the heterogeneity of needs trajectory of patients with enterostomy. The reporting of this study adhered to the STROBE checklist. RESULTS: A total of 232 patients with enterostomy completed follow-up. There was heterogeneity in the developmental trajectories of supportive care needs of enterostomy patients and the trajectories of the five dimensions of supportive care needs. The heterogeneity factors affecting the trajectory of supportive care needs included the enterostomy patient's psychosocial adjustment score, type of enterostomy, and educational background and the heterogeneity factors affecting the five dimensions trajectory of supportive care needs include psychosocial adjustment score, tumour staging, type of enterostomy, smoking, chemotherapy and enterostomy self-care knowledge score. CONCLUSIONS: The needs of patients with enterostomy within 3 months after discharge were dynamic. Identifying and meeting the unmet needs of patients with enterostomy was crucial to improving the health-related quality of life of patients with enterostomy. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: None. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The needs of patients with enterostomy were dynamic, with the needs of most patients with enterostomy decreasing within 3 months of discharge, but some patients with enterostomy continued to have high needs at 3 months after discharge, and clinical nurses were expected to pay special attention to these patients.