title: Factors influencing adjustment to a colostomy in Chinese patients: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated persons living with a colostomy in order to characterize and describe relationships among adjustment, self-care ability, and social support.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-nine colostomy patients from 5 hospitals in Guangzhou, capital city of the Guangdong province, were recruited by convenience sampling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data were collected from a survey that included demographic and pertinent clinical data related to their ostomy. The survey also incorporated Chinese language versions of the Ostomy Adjustment Scale, Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale, and Perceived Social Support Scale. These scales were used to measure the levels and degrees of adjustment, self-care ability, and social support of colostomy patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respondents completed the survey during outpatient clinics visit after creation of a colostomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scores from the Ostomy Adjustment Scale revealed that 96.9% of colostomy patients reported low to moderate adjustment (128.6 ± 19.38) to their stoma. Self-care ability and social support of patients were positively correlated with the adjustment level (R = 0.33, R = 0.21). Several factors, including being a housewife, paying medical expense by oneself, inability to manage the ostomy without assistance, and not participating in an ostomy support group, were associated with a lower level of adjustment (P < .05). Worries about odor and antipathy toward the ostomy significantly contributed to lower levels of adjustment to the stoma (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall adjustment to a colostomy was moderate. Self-care ability and social support associated with having a colostomy positively influenced adjustment. Adjustment was also influenced by occupation, health insurance provider, and ability to care for the stoma without requiring assistance.
authors.affiliation: Ailing Hu, MSc, ET, Professor of Nursing, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Yunfeng Pan, PhD, Professor, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Meifen Zhang, MSc, Professor, School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. June Zhang, PhD, Vice Professor, School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Meichun Zheng, ET, Professor of Nursing, The Tumor Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Manrong Huang, ET, Vice Professor of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Xinmei Ye, ET, Vice Professor of Nursing, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Xianrong Wu, ET, Vice Professor of Nursing, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ailing
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yunfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Meifen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Meichun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Manrong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xinmei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Xianrong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003125:Colostomy / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires