Effect of A Designed Nursing and Patients Self Care Protocol on Reducing the Colostomy and Peristomal Skin Complications among the Elderly Patients.

Introduction

Colostomy is a surgically created opening between the colon and abdominal wall to allow fecal elimination leaving the patient with an opening on the abdomen called stoma in which waste is passed into an appliance that must be emptied periodically. The colostomy may be temporary or permanent diversion, it is named according to where in the bowel it is formed (Campos et al., 2017).   

A stoma is a part of the intestine (small or large) that is brought above the abdominal wall to become the outlet for discharge of fecal matter rather than being eliminated through the anus. The most common indication for stoma formation is for decompression, drainage, diversion, and protection of an anastomosis. The major etiological factors are colorectal trauma, intestinal obstruction and carcinoma of colon, ischemia to the small or large intestine (Bennett & Wick, 2017).

Like any other surgical procedure, colostomy patients face many problems. These problems can be physical or psychological, nutritional problems, bowel problems, sexual, social interaction problems, that interfere with day-to-day living. In addition, other sources of problems include skin irritation and application of pouching system correctly, problems of leakage or presence of bad odor. Additionally, the presence of colostomy itself is considered as a big problem which affects the body image of those patients (Shaffy, Kaur, Das & Gupta, 2012).

The importance of the role of nursing professional is pointed out in the pursuit of subsidies which favor the planning of the teaching for the stoma patient and his family, as well as their preparation to offer professional support to make the physiological recovery. It is believed that colostomy construction under the care of a colorectal surgeon and stoma nurse would reduce the risk of postoperative complications. Coexistence with the stoma requires that the ostomized person adopt numerous measures of adaptation and readjustment to daily activities, including learning the actions of self-care of the stoma and peristaltic skin. The nurse has an important role in the rehabilitation of the stomized patient since the choice of type of bag, type of skin protector or protective barrier of skin and accessory products to be used, which allows the individual greater independence (Sarabi, Navipour & Mohammadi, 2017) .

Major duties and responsibilities for nursing care include preparing the patient physically for surgery; providing information about pre and post-operative care, including stoma care and supporting the patient and family emotionally. All members of the health care team, including the wound ostomy and continence nurse (WOCN), should be available for assistance, support and visualizing a successful recovery from surgery (Subih & Teresa, 2016). Specific information is given to patients pre-operatively regarding the practical management of the stoma and to prepare them psychologically for the stoma. Post-operatively, patients will continue to require information and support from everyone involved in their care. After the hospital discharge, the process of living as an intestinal stoma patient begins. This process can be favored with the teaching of individualized self-care, the use of devices and the clinical assistance to control of the disease complications, treatment, allowing them to fulfill their family, work and social duties and return to the relationships, activities, hobbies and improving life style is a very important goal in treating and caring for patients with colostomy (Johnson, Readding & Ryan, 2015).

Significance of  the study:

Peristomal skin problems are significant, affecting one third of colostomy patients. Complications related to the stoma often have a significant reduction in quality of life and lead to social isolation. Various studies have reported a peristomal skin complications rate ranging from 18–60% (Meisner et al., 2012). Patients aged 70 and older have more fecal ostomy procedures than younger patients, with longer hospital stays, lack of knowledge about stoma self-care, types of appliances, patients are exposed to more postoperative complications and higher mortality rates (Wong, Young, Widder & Khadaroo, 2013).

Aim of the Study:

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of a designed nursing and patients self care protocol on reducing the colostomy and peristomal skin complications among the elderly patients.

Research hypothesis

Designed colostomy nursing care protocol will reducing the stoma and peristomal skin complication among the elderly patients.

Subjects and Methods:

Research Design:

Quasi-experimental research design was utilized in the current study.

Setting of the study:

This study was carried out at General Surgical Department and Surgical Outpatient Clinics in Minia University Hospital.

Study Subjects:

A purposive sample of 60 elderly patients from both sexes (males & females) aged 60yrs old and older who are newly admitted to general surgical department in Minia university hospital was classified equally into two groups(no=30) for the study group and (no=30) for the control group. The data from the control group were collected firstly then the data from study group were collected. The study group received the designed colostomy nursing care protocol and the control group did not receive the designed nursing care protocol.

-The sample was selected according to the following criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients admitted to surgical department from surgical outpatient as well as emergency department who underwent surgeries which ended in colostomy.
• Patients 60 years of age and older were included.
• Both sexes (males and females) participated in the study.
• Patients with all types of colostomy.
• Patients with new colostomy.
• Patients free from liver cirrhosis, renal failure and cancer.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with evidence of acute confusion state or dementia.
• Patients who refused to participate in the study.
• Dependent patients.

Study Tools:

Four tools were utilized to collect the data pertinent to the current study, these tools were tested by the researcher after pilot study and the content of the tools was established after extensive literature review and were revised by members of a jury who are experts in the field of study.

Tool 1: Patient assessment sheet it was included two main parts:

 First part; covered the socio- demographic data of the patient as name, age, gender, marital status, education, and…..etc.

 Second part; Covered medical data as: date of admission, medical diagnosis, Patient's health history, presence of any chronic disease.

Tool 2: A designed colostomy nursing and patient’s self-care protocol (hand out) was given to the patients. It was written in simple Arabic language and included pictures to show the steps of care.

- It was applied by the researcher to the study group only. The researcher trained the patient and the care giver, demonstrated  the steps of stoma and peristomal skin care, steps of hand washing, stoma wound care, emptying and changing stoma pouch, stoma irrigation, peristomal skin care, warning signs and symptom of colostomy complications in the pre-operative phase.

Tool 3: Observation Check list designed by the researcher.

- Observation Check list was applied immediately after teaching and every follow up session to evaluate the patient’s performance about the steps of stoma self-care and peristomal skin care.

Tool 4: Peristomal skin assessment scale which consists of three domains: Discoloration, Erosion, and Tissue overgrowth (DET) score

- It is a measuring instrument which was used to assess the extent and severity of peristomal skin complications. The total score is (15) categorized as follows, unaffected (DET = zero), mild (DET = 1-3), moderate (DET = 4–6), and severe (DET = 7-15).

Tools Validity:

Tools content validity was done to identify the degree of the used tools which measure what was supposed to be measured. The developed tools were examined by a panel of 3 experts in the field of this study at Minia University - Faculty of Nursing (Medical Surgical Nursing Department). All jury members (100%) agreed that the current study tools were valid and relevant to the aim of the study.

Tools Reliability:

Reliability of tools was tested by using Cronbach's Alpha test and it was from 0.65-0.99.

Pilot study:

A pilot study was carried out on 6 patients (10%) of the total sample in July 2016 to test feasibility, objectivity, and applicability of the tools. Results of the pilot study illustrated that no any refinements and modifications needed so the subjects were included to the actual sample.

Procedure for designed colostomy nursing and patient’s self-care protocol.

The current study was conducted by preparing of different data collection tools. The total data collections were collected over a period of 12 months starting from 10th September 2016 until 18th October 2017. The collection of study data was on daily basis during morning shift in surgical outpatient clinic before admission to surgical department to select cases that relevant with this study. The sample that was selected informed individually about purpose and nature of the study in their rooms in surgical ward, and then the researcher obtained consent from those who accepted to participate in this study. The researcher started data collection with the control group firstly included 30 patients who received routine hospital nursing care without provided any teaching process from the researcher and the researcher just assessed and observed the patient’s performance about stoma and peristomal skin care. Each patient received one session daily ranged from 20 to 30 minutes for session, just observation for they practice.

On the other hand the study group received one session daily which ranged from (45to55) minutes because they performed training and educational practices individually in the form of small teaching and practical sessions.

The researcher was followed the patients by telephone daily after discharged from the hospital to ensure that the patient follow application of procedure and for providing necessary care and presence of any symptoms of stoma abnormalities. (The researcher was offered the prescribed medications which prescribed by physician and the researcher was offered equipment for the patient to enhanced attendance and continuity of care).

Results

Table (1) Socio demographic characteristics of study & control groups (n= 60).

Table (1): Illustrates, the percentage of the distribution of the study and control groups as regards socio demographic characteristics, it shows that the highest percentage of the sample is in the age group (60 to 65) years old, (56.7%) in the study group and (36.7%) in the control group, and more than two thirds were males, the study group (63.3%) and the control group (66.7%). As regards marital status for both groups, the highest percentages in the two groups were married, the study group (70%) and the control (46.7%) respectively. On the other hand, most of the study sampls were farmers, the study group (33.3%) and the control group (46.7%). As related to their educational level in the two groups, there is more than half of the control group were illiterate (60%), and the study group (46.7%), and most of the study sample lived in rural area. All of both groups had assistant relatives with a percentage of (100%).

Table (2): Percentage distribution of the studied groups as regards their medical information data (n= 60).

Table (2): shows the percentage distribution of the study sample, as regards medical data for the study and the control groups. According to the type of operation for both groups, results represents that more than half of them were descending colostomy, the study group (60%), and the control group (53.3%), respectively while the lowest percentage had ascending colostomy, (10% for the study group& 16.7% for the control group). As regards indication of surgery, most of them were due to intestinal obstruction with equal percentage of (73.3%) for both groups (the study group & control group). More than half of the study group and control group were none smokers with percentage of (56.7%), according to previous abdominal surgery, most of them for both groups had no abdominal surgery, the study group (66.7%), and control group (93.3%).

Figure (1): Score distribution of Discoloration in the 7th observation for the study and control groups.

Figure (1): Illustrates that (90%) of the study group didn’t have Discoloration of the skin, while (33.3%) of the control group had score (1) in area.

Figure (2): Score distribution of Erosion in the 7th observation for the study and control groups.

Figure (2): Revealed that (100%) of the study group patients didn’t have Erosion of the skin, while (90%) of the control group had score (1) in area.

Figure (3): Score distribution of Tissue overgrowth in the 7th observation for the study and control groups.

Figure (3): Revealed that (100%) of the study group patients didn’t have Tissue overgrowth, while (86.7%) of the control group had score (1) in area.

Figure (4): Distribution of total DET in the 6th observation for the study and control groups.

Figure (4): Illustrates that (83.3%) of the study group had normal skin and (100%) of them didn’t have any moderate and severe complications, while (13.3%) of the control group had mild complications, (36.7%) had moderate complications, and (50%) of the same group had severe complications.

Figure (5): Distribution of total DET in the 7th observation for the study and control groups.

Figure (5): Illustrates that (86.7%) of the study group had normal skin and (100%) of them didn’t have any moderate and severe complications, while (100%) of the control group didn’t have normal skin regarding total DET during the 7th observation, (46.7%) of them had moderate complications, and (43.3%) of the same group had severe complications.

Table (3): Correlation between socio demographic data and procedure score among study group. 

Table (3): Regarding the study group, this table shows that there was no statistically significant correlation between socio-demographic data and procedure except a positive correlation was found between age and care of reusable pouch. Also, there was a positive correlation between level of education and removing old pouch. It a negative correlation between marital status and care of reusable pouch was also found.