Life Experience of Patients Living With Urostomy: A Meta‐Synthesis of Qualitative Research

OBJECTIVE: Urostomy profoundly alters the body image of bladder cancer patients, leading to a series of physiological, psychological, social, and functional changes. This review aims to synthesize qualitative research on urostomy patients' life experiences to provide healthcare professionals with a complete understanding of the patient's problems and needs, thereby guiding the development of interventions and continuous care services. METHODS: This review adhered to the ENTREQ guide. The Cochrane, EMBASE, Ovid (Medline), Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, EBSCO, CNKI, VIP, and Wan Fang databases were searched for qualitative studies on the life experience of urostomy patients. The search period was from the earliest available records in each database to June 2024. This review selected studies based on the study's objectives and predetermined criteria. The data was synthesized using a meta-aggregation method. RESULTS: A total of 17 studies were included in the synthesis. This review included 242 patients. The 32 qualitative findings were distilled into nine new categories and synthesized into three findings: (1) Facing multiple pressures and challenges that disrupt normalcy; (2) The existence of multidimensional unmet needs; and (3) Growing up after trauma and achieving life reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Urostomy patients face complex physiological, psychological, and social challenges. These challenges require a comprehensive understanding of patients' experiences, life adjustments, and unmet needs. Healthcare professionals should address these aspects, support patients through their adjustment to stoma life, and enhance their self-care abilities to improve their quality of life.