Educational and nursing problems of parents of children with stoma

Olejnik B, Maciorkowska E, Lenkiewicz T, Sierakowska M 

In children, it is usually one of the stages of treatment of lower alimentary congenital defects. Such patients require long-term professional medical and nursing attention as well as solicitous care of the parents at home. The aim of the study was the analysis of educational and nursing problems that are faced by parents of children with stoma, the influence of a nurse on the quality of their care, and determination of nurse educational assignment in preparing the parents for the care at home. The study was performed in the group of 30 parents of children, 0-2 years old, with lower alimentary congenital defects who had intestinal stoma inserted in 2003. The questionnaire revealed that the main causes of the stoma were Hirschsprung disease (40%), anal atresia (37%), perianal fistula, intestinal perforation and necrosis (10% each). All responders stated that the knowle­dge acquired in the ward was of great help while nursing a  child at home. The results showed that above 80% of parents had the opportunity to change the stomal sacks by themselves, once or more times, in the presence of medical staff. Skin changes (33%) were the most common complications in case of stoma, which could encounter for inappropriate care. Other complications included hemorrhage (20%), prolapse (13%), and stoma narrowing (10%).