Association between Jordanian Ostomates’ Knowledge about Intestinal Ostomy Care and their Ostomy Health-Related Problems

Introduction: Patients with intestinal ostomy (IO) have several health-related problems and complications. This research is conducted to determine the correlation between the subjects’ knowledge about IO care and the frequency of health-related problems and complications.

Method: A cross-sectional design and convenience sampling method were used to investigate 174 patients with IO (ostomates).

Results: Almost all of the subjects had at least one IO health-related problem. About half of the subjects had more than three IO health-related problems. The subjects’ had low (poor) knowledge about IO care and management (mean ± SD = 52.2 ± 16.4, out of 100). The results showed negative correlation between ostomates’ knowledge about IO care and their frequency of IO health-related problems and complications (r = -0.54, p = 0.03).

Conclusion: Continuing health eduaction and training programs are recommended to all patients with IO to imorove their knowledge about IO care and to prevent the negative health events and complications which are related to IO.