2000 Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 17-21
Purpose: To obtain basic data on “Meaning of Life”, which promote continuous care for the patients who had undergone stoma surgery.
Method: Survey of “Meaning of Life” of those who had Intestinal and/or urinary stoma (ostomates) by self rating questionnaire, including Purpose in Life-A Test.
Result: Subjects were one hundred and twelve (112) ostomates, 68 males, and 44 females. Mean age was 62.9 (SD13.6, range 29-90) years. The mean post-operative period was 6.7 years. The mean PIL-A score was 104.6 (SD 19.4, range 47-139), male was 105.7 (SD 19.4), female was 103.0 (SD 19.5). Average adaptation was suggested. Categorizing by disease, the mean for carcinoma of the colon and rectum group was 107.7 (SD 18.2), the mean for bladder-prostatic cancer group was 99.3 (SD 11.9), the mean for uterine cancer group was 99.3 (SD 23.9), the mean for Crohn's Disease group was 89.2(SD 24.0), the mean for emergency stoma performed group was 88.7 (SD 5.9).
Conclusion: Purpose in Life score showed by ostomy group is a middle range of “Meaning of Life”， also symptom controlled group had good adaptation score, but Crohn’s Disease and emergency stoma surgery group had poor PIL-A score. Special importance is continuous physical-mental care by ostomates support team, pre-operative to end of their life span.
