Authors

Mª Beatriz Crespo Fontán1, María Cruz Gago Ferreiro1, Ana Isabel Corbal Obelleiro1, Mª Adelina Fernández García2, Purificación Sebio Brandariz3, Mª Carmen Pazos Orosa4, Silvia Louzao Méndez5, Mª Socorro Riveiro García6

Position

1Enfermera. Complejo Hospitalario Universitario EOXI Pontevedra y Salnés2Enfermera. Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo3Enfermera. Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago4Enfermera. Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti5Enfermera. Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña6Enfermera. Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Ourense

Contact address

Mª Beatriz Crespo Fontán. Complejo Hospitalario Universitario EOXI Pontevedra y Salnés. Consulta de Estomaterapia, 5ª planta. Avda. Montecelo, s/n. 36

Contact email: beatriz.crespo.fontan@ sergas.es

Abstract

Objective: to understand and analyze the reality of patients with ostomy from the point of view of their potential reintegration into the work force in the Autonomous Community of Galicia.
Method: a descriptive, transversal and multicenter study on patients with ostomy from the perspective of their reintegration to the work activity. The period of research was from October, 2014 to September, 2015. A single visit was conducted, where a series of basal data were collected regarding the ostomy, background, quality of life, and questions about the working status of the patient. The Questionnaire on Quality of Life (Stoma-QoL) and the Tool for Peristomal Skin Assessment (DET Score) were used.
Results: in total, 138 patients were recruited from the six participating centres in the Autonomous Community of Galicia. The mean age of participants was 52.97 years, with a median 54.50 years. In 71% of cases included, the ostomy was permanent, vs. 29% of cases where it was intended as temporary. Neoplasia appeared as the most frequent reason, with a >68% percentage of cases, followed by inflammatory conditions in >15% of cases. An 80.26% of ostomates declared their intention to reincorporate to working life; however, only 21.80% could return to their previous job position. From those patients already reintegrated to working life, 18.18% stated that they had been forced to do it by demands outside their own will, while 16.03% of the sample declared that the status of their skin had been a major barrier to their reincorporation to work.
Conclusions: even though there are numerous barriers for ostomates to work again, this study showed that those patients with ostomy who returned to the work activity they held previously to surgery had a better quality of life; this makes evident the need for support by staff with expertise on care for ostomates, as well as for a multidisciplinary team, not only for care from a physical health perspective, but in order to try to include and provide social and occupational support.

Keywords:

Patient with ostomy; ostomy; labour disability; ostomy specialist; quality of life; working life

Versión en Español

Título:

Reinserción laboral de personas con una ostomía en la Comunidad Autónoma de Galicia