Abstract
Purpose: To clarify the actual status of ostomates after the Kumamoto earthquake （April 2016） and to develop an application to support ostomates in such disasters.
Methods: A questionnaire was administered by mail to 2,265 ostomates living in Kumamoto Prefecture in August 2018, and the data obtained were analyzed.
Results: A total of 1,022 （45.1％） respondents completed the questionnaire. The average age was 73.8 years, and the average duration of living with a stoma was 9.4 years. At the time of the survey, 68.6％ were able to perform stoma self-care, and 14.4％ received care from healthcare professionals. Although 35.0％ had some troubles with their stoma, 22.1％ did not have access to a consultant when they had difficulties, having lost such access an average of 6 years after stoma formation. Immediately after the earthquake, 21.1％ of ostomates evacuated to places other than their own houses, and 27.8％ experienced some stoma-related problems. Moreover, there was insufficient information about emergency support supplies, and it was difficult to secure places to exchange their ostomy appliances.Based on these results, we developed an application to support ostomates, entitled, “Ostomate Mamoru-mon,” and started using it in Kumamoto Prefecture in January 2024.
Conclusion: We expect that the Ostomate Mamoru-mon would be fully used to support ostomates when natural disasters occur, contributing to their stoma care.
