Dynamics of Stress Resistance in Patients Who Underwent Surgical Intervention on the Colon for Colorectal Cancer

INTRODUCTION: The article considers the impact of surgical intervention with subsequent exteriorization of stoma on stress resistance level in patients with colorectal cancer. AIM: To study the dynamics of stress resistance and stress coping ability in patients with colorectal cancer before and after surgical intervention (resection, exteriorization of stoma). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stress resistance was analyzed in 30 patients aged 45 to 67 years (13 men and 17 women) with colorectal cancer before and after surgery with subsequent stoma exteriorization. The following test methods were used: ‘Diagnostics of stress coping ability’, ‘Life satisfaction index test’ (LSI), ‘Methodology and diagnostics of well-being, activity, mood’ (WAM), ‘Subjective Control Scale of Rotter’ (SCS), ‘Scale of assessment of reactive and personal anxiety of Spielberg–Khanin’. RESULTS: Patients who underwent surgery on the colon for colorectal cancer with subsequent stoma exteriorization revealed a tendency to seek social support, to impairment of well-being, activity and mood, decrease in interest in everyday life. There was also found a loss of subjective control and an increase in personal anxiety level. CONCLUSION: The study conducted by us permitted to identify reduction in stress resistance level in the studied group of patients after the surgical intervention.