title: Health-related quality of life in persons living with a urostomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to determine the life experiences and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients living with a urostomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective and descriptive study was carried out in a research and training hospital in Gaziantep, Turkey; data were collected from May 2009 to September 2011. Twenty-four participants had undergone a urostomy operation at least 4 months before study participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A form querying pertinent demographic and clinical information, combined with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QoL Q-C30) was used for data collection. Data collection forms were sent to the patients via mail in closed envelopes. The Mann-Whitney U, the Kruskal Wallis, and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used for the comparative statistics; statistical significance was accepted when P values were <.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the 24 participants was 63.45 ± 6.33 years (mean ± SD; range, 49-72 years). The average time since surgery was 9.83 ± 2.34 months (range, 4-18 months). Most respondents stated that their urostomy affected their dressing habits (83.4%), sleep patterns (91.7%), family life (91.7%), participation in social activities (91.7%), and occupation (75.0%). All participants reported problems with psychological health and sexual activity following urostomy surgery. Analysis of EORTC QoLQ-C3 scores revealed that general wellness, functional condition, and symptomatic condition mean scores were lower than population-based norms associated with this instrument (54.16 ± 15.29, 44.07 ± 9.62, and 64.31 ± 12.56, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Creation of a urostomy affected the patients' lifestyle and HRQOL negatively. Determining the patients' experiences, problems, and the change in HRQOL may provide assistance in designing appropriate nursing approaches to alleviate problems adapting to a urostomy.
authors.affiliation: Berrin Pazar, MSc, RN, Department of Surgical Nursing, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, School of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey. Ayla Yava, PhD, RN, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hasan Kalyoncu University, Gaziantep, Turkey. Şeref Başal, MD, Urology Department, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berrin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pazar
authors.forename: Ayla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yava
authors.forename: Şeref
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Başal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D014421:Turkey; D014519:Ureterostomy