The aim of this study was to clarify the relevance sense of coherence (SOC) and psychological health has on the life of ostomates. The subjects were 208 members of A prefecture branch of Japanese Ostomy Association using the questionnaire about their life, SOC13 and GHQ12. We analyzed 121 of them(response rate 58.2％) and found that the postoperative burden like the difficulty of the stoma care, anxiety about future and life, and the progress after an operation itself had an effect on their Sense of Coherence and psychological health rather than their background either their life with his/her spouse, family or not. Moreover, a significant correlation was seen between SOC and GHQ and so, it suggested that psychological health was excellent when sense of coherence was high.

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To clarify the difference between colostomy irrigation (CI) and natural evacuation (NE) in terms of QOL and daily life, we assessed the following factors: stress, social support level and satisfaction with stoma-related QOL． General condition, activity, psychological condition, self-esteem, sexuality and financial situation were also examined as QOL of daily life daily. The patients who perform CI regularly showed a significantly high QOL score in the questionnaire regarding self-esteem. We found differences in bathing circumstances, which was speculated to result from the high self-esteem of CI patients. NE is a safe and universal method that should be introduced to all patients with stomas. CI is also a beneficial and useful procedure for selected patients that should only be applied with the full understanding and consent of the patient．

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The aim of this study was to investigate the current status of preparedness of emergency ostomy supplies and the effectiveness of the pilot handbook (hereafter referred to as HB) which contains crucial information about natural disasters for ostomates. One hundred and seven ostomates who visited the researcher stoma clinics were interviewed. Sixty ostomates (56%) have stockpiled ostomy supplies for an emergency. The ratio of patient stockpiling emergency ostomy supplies was significantly higher among those who had a stoma for more than one year, a statistically significant difference compared to the group who had a stoma for less than a year.
Five categories could be classified following analysis of the interviews (note: answers were biased according to experience): 1) No occasion for thinking about emergency measures; 2) recognition of the importance of emergency measures; 3) understanding emergency measures concerning stoma care; 4) using the HB and card to prepare for an emergency; and 5) stockpiling emergency ostomy supplies. By reading the HB, ostomates have obtained new information and realized again the need to prepare for emergencies. Furthermore, this study suggests that the HB is useful for changing awareness and behavior among ostomates regarding emergency preparedness.

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