Perioperative teaching and counseling.
BACKGROUND
Patients who undergo surgery for colorectal cancer resulting in an abdominal stoma need extensive teaching and counseling to fully recover and enjoy a satisfactory quality of life.


METHODS
The economics of health care, changes in length of hospital stay, what and how patients are taught, and ways in which adults learn were reviewed. Each of these influences on acquisition of self-care skills and knowledge were considered as they apply to the specific needs of stoma patients.


RESULTS
Common misconceptions about ostomies should be dispelled to clear the way for adults to learn what they need to know to care for their ostomy. Postoperative teaching must wait until patients are alert and comfortable enough to attend to instruction. Educational material should be prepared at the patient's level of understanding.


CONCLUSIONS
An adequate budget for education and dedicated patient education personnel are necessary for effective perioperative teaching and counseling of ostomy patients. In today's health-care system, patients who require a stoma need access to outpatient preoperative and postoperative training and emotional support.
Jeter
K F
KF
Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, South Carolina 29303.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D003125:Colostomy; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012648:Self Care