2001 Volume 5 Issue 2 Pages 12-16
The aim of this study is to reveal the possible influences of the expenses of stoma equipment on the quality of life of ostomates, to obtain parameters to reflect them in the future stomal therapy and social support. We investigated the economic quality of life of ostomates using an investigation form for the quality of life of ostomates and a questionnaire we prepared on our own.
The subjects were 160 ostomates (125 men and 35 women), with 64.3 years on average. They had had stoma for 5.2 years on average. The average total score of the equality of life of ostomates in the investigation form was 125.1, and the average score of the economic aspect was 6.0. There was no significant difference in economic pressure in daily living, but there was a significant difference (P<0.01) in the burden of the expenses of equipment to be borne by an individual between those who were given benefit tickets for help devices (n=112) and those who were not (n=43) .There was also as significant difference (P<0.05) in the burden of the expenses of equipment to be borne by an individual between those who received an allowance of 7.500 yen or more (n=79) and those who received less than 7,500 yen (n=33) .There was also a significant difference (P<0.01) in the burden of the expenses of equipment to be borne by an individual between those who purchased 5.000 yen or more (n=32) and those who purchased less than 5.000 yen in equipment additionally (n=42).
Provision of a benefit ticket for help devices, difference in the amount of allowance and difference in the burden to be borne by an individual influenced the economic quality of life. We think that it is necessary to provide social support to ostomates so that all of them can receive adequate services equally.
