Quality of life of stoma patients in a city from Minas Gerais, Brazil

Colorectal cancer is the major cause of the need for a stoma worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of stoma patients in care at a reference center. A cross-sectional study with 50 stoma patients in care at the Stoma Outpatient Clinic of the Specialized Rehabilitation Center in Diamantina, Brazil. Data were collected using a sociodemographic form, the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-bref) questionnaire and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Data were analyzed adopting a 95% significance level (p<0.05). It was verified that most patients were women, married with an incomplete primary school education, low income and self-declared not white. Colorectal cancer was the main reason for the need for the stoma. Mean scores of the WHOQOL-bref questionnaire indicated quality of life and satisfaction with health to be considered neither poor nor good. However, men were significantly more satisfied with their health than women (p=0.038). The AUDIT indicated low risk of alcohol intake in the sample. In conclusion, stoma patients were predominantly women with brown skin, low income, low schooling and low alcohol intake. Colorectal cancer was the main reason for the stoma. Overall quality of life and satisfaction with health was neutral, with men significantly more satisfied with their health than women.