title: Health-related quality of life in patients with urostomies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess health-related quality of life in patients with urothelial (bladder) cancer 6 months following radical cystectomy with construction of a urostomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The target sample was 54 patients with urothelial cancer who underwent radical cystectomy with Bricker-type incontinent urinary diversion between December 2008 and December 2009; 37 out of 54 (68%) of potential respondents agreed to participate. Seven potential subjects died within the 6-month period and we were unable to locate 10 potential respondents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Stoma-Quality of Life was developed to be valid for measurement of 20 items that query the impact of the ostomy on the health-related quality of life and its impact on daily life. Scores were categorized as 70% to 100% (indicating good quality of life), 30% to 69% (indicating moderate quality of life), and 0 to 29% (indicating poor quality of life).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects responded to the Stoma-Quality of Life questionnaire by telephone 6 months after urostomy surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five were ranked as having a good quality of life. The remaining 2 subjects had scores indicating moderate quality of life; no respondent was ranked as having a poor quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health-related quality of life was ranked as good in 95% of a group of patients managed by radical cystectomy and Bricker ileal conduit construction and moderate in 5%. Based on these findings, we conclude that the Bricker-type incontinent urinary diversion remains a viable treatment option for bladder cancer that allows an acceptable health-related quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Ascension Gomez, RN, Nursing Department, Department of Urology, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain. Susana Barbera, RN, Nursing Department, Department of Urology, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain. Maria Lombraña, RN, MSc, Nursing Coordinator at Farmacology Department, Department of Urology, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain. Laura Izquierdo, MD, PhD, Nursing Coordinator at Department of Urology, Department of Urology, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain. Carmen Baños, RN, Nursing Coordinator at Department of Urology, Department of Urology, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ascension
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barbera
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lombraña
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baños
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015653:Cystectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D014547:Urinary Diversion