Evaluation of the quality of life of adult patients with digestive stomas in Congo-Brazzaville: a multicenter study

Background: Digestive stomas remain a surgical option indicated for various gastrointestinal pathologies. However, living with a stoma can significantly impair a patient's quality of life. The objective of this study is to evaluate the perceptions of adult Congolese patients with digestive stomas regarding their quality of life. Methods: This multicenter, descriptive, and prospective study was conducted from 01 August 2019 to 01 November 2020. It included patients aged 18 years and older living with digestive stomas. They were consecutively recruited from seven hospitals in Congo-Brazzaville. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed using the Stoma-QoL questionnaire. Results: In total, 56 patients (39 men and 17 women, male/female ratio of 2.29), aged. A mean age of 42±17 years (range: 18–75 years) participated in the study. All ostomy patients reported a change in body image. They felt self-conscious about their appearance and significantly affected their physical attractiveness. Nearly all patients (96%) experienced negative psychological repercussions (depression, anxiety). Most of them (87%) had stopped their professional or daily activities due to the ostomy. The quality of sexuality was impaired for both patients and their partners. Those close to the patients experienced anxiety and spent more time at home. Conclusion: The daily lives of ostomy patients are significantly disrupted in every way. It is therefore essential to provide more support to ostomy patients to help them better adapt to daily life. To this end, a multidisciplinary approach involving surgeons, ostomy therapists, and psychologists is crucial to improving their quality of life.