The self-care engagement of patients with an intestinalstoma: a narrative review

An intestinal stoma is an emerging issue among chronic gastrointestinal conditions. It imposes a significant burden on patients’ lives and makes it imperative for them to engage in self-care activities to manage their condition and improve their quality of life effectively. However, engaging in self-care is complex and demanding. This review aims to gain a clear understanding of the issue of self-care among patients who are living with an intestinal stoma. From the review, the self-care issues of patients living with intestinal stomas were less comprehensive, and the evidence that is produced by those studies seems difficult to transfer to the Malaysian context due to the vast differences in terms of cultural practice. The result of the study suggests an in-depth exploration of this phenomenon, encompassing the viewpoints of both patients and healthcare providers. It could be advantageous in the development of a comprehensive framework for supporting self-care engagement among patients who are living with an intestinal stoma in a healthcare context, which could improve the patient’s quality of life.