title: Impact of a temporary stoma on patients' everyday lives: feelings of uncertainty while waiting for closure of the stoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine patients' experiences of impact of a temporary stoma on their everyday life. Furthermore, we wanted to generate new knowledge and comprehension of learning how to live with a temporary stoma.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There are many aspects, largely unexplored, that may influence patients' adaptation to life with a stoma. Amongst these, being in a temporary state is relatively unexplored and may have a restrictive impact on patients' adaptation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group interviews conducted with seven patients with temporary stoma were set up with a hermeneutic phenomenological perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were processed using qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The creation of a temporary stoma led to feelings of uncertainty related to being in an undecided situation. Stoma creation led to feelings of stigma and worries about disclosure. Patients proposed group-based patient education with lay educators with a stoma to make sure that information about the stoma was based on real-life experiences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Creation of a temporary stoma was linked to uncontrollable feelings of uncertainty. Professionals should assist patients with focus on coping strategies, as they are associated with positive re-evaluation of the situation. Introducing a coherent and structured learning environment involving both lay educators with a stoma and group-based learning would be useful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses and other health professionals should support patients in problem-focused coping strategies. These strategies may be supported when patients have a high sense of coherence. Furthermore, patients' disclosure of the stoma as a way to master feelings of stigma should be facilitated. Stoma education is central for patients, and group-based learning that involves lay educators with a stoma is seen as a way to empower patients with temporary stomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark. anne.kjaergaard.danielsen@regionh.dk
authors.forename: Anne K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Danielsen
authors.forename: Erik E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Soerensen
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burcharth
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D054047:Surgical Stomas; D035501:Uncertainty