Exploring the experiences of patients who receive nutrition education for ostomy care: A qualitative research design

Ileostomy and colostomy patients benefit from more nutrition education than patients who receive bowel resections without ostomy creation. Nutrition can influence the adaptation to a stoma and may help manage complications. The impact of nutrition education on health outcomes is known, but a gap exists for the type and timing of nutrition information for patients with newly formed ostomies. A survey of open-ended and closed-ended questions was designed to evaluate experiences about nutrition education provided for living with an ostomy. The survey was conducted during hospital admission for ostomy reversal: 39 patients were approached, 36 consented, and all 36 completed the survey. Of the 36 patients who took part in the study, 20 (56%) were male. The mean age was 57.7 years. Twenty-four (67%) patients were admitted for an ileostomy reversal and 12 (33%) patients for a colostomy reversal. When patients were asked about their preferred timing of nutrition education, 28% (n = 10) wanted information before surgery, 58% (n = 21) wanted the information in the hospital when admitted for ostomy creation, and 14% (n = 5) wanted to receive it after discharge. A total of 25% (n = 9) of patients commented on the need for a follow-up phone call after discharge to ask questions. Nutrition education is valuable for patients, and most patients want to receive nutrition information while in the hospital. A follow-up session with a dietitian after discharge could assist patients in developing strategies to manage weight changes, prevent dehydration, and lower the risk of malnutrition.