Assessment of the level of satisfaction with life of patients with stoma according to selected demographic factors

Introduction: Satisfaction with life is a multidimensional concept depending on many factors which determine good mood. However what gives you the most satisfaction in life is full health and vitality. The disease, which sometimes occurs quite suddenly, destroys the existence and reduces the satisfaction. One of the difficult situations is the intestinal stoma. Surgical stoma is a radical procedure saving life of many patients but at the same time it causes a severe reduction in the patient’s activity too often.

Aim of the study: Analysis of satisfaction with life among people with surgical stoma.

Material and methods: The survey was conducted among 50 patients in whom it was necessary to create a intestinal stoma, both colostomy and ileostomy. The scale of satisfaction with life (SWLS) was used as a research tool.

Results: The majority of study subjects were women. The most frequent reason for surgical stoma was cancer of intestine. According to the study, satisfaction with life of patients with stoma is very low.

Conclusions: Surgical stoma is unpleasant for both men and women. Men have a slightly higher level of satisfaction with life than women. The level of satisfaction with life is affected by a period since the stoma was created. The longer the period since stoma was created, the better satisfaction with life is.