A literature review about self-care on ostomy patients and their caregivers

Self-care is a key concept for ostomy patients as much as for chronically ill patients. Many studies describe how reaching a good self-care level permits patient to perceive a higher quality of life, to adjust faster to the new condition, to grow empowerment feelings and to reduce readmissions and negative outcomes. There are many studies that state the negative impact of living with an ostomy on patients' quality of life. Quality of life is proven to be strictly related to self-care ability. Health professionals cannot fail to consider this aspect of ostomized patients' life to identify existing lacking areas of self-care abilities and to be able to project-specific educative interventions so to improve the impact that living with an ostomy has on patients. Specific self-care assessment tools could ensure self-care measurement, specific educational intervention planning and evaluation of caregivers' role.