Jordanian ostomates' health problems and self-care ability to manage their intestinal ostomy: a cross-sectional study

Background: Ostomates have several physical, psychological and social health problems. These problems negatively impact the ostomates' quality of life. Aims: This study aims to identify Jordanian ostomates' health problems and their self-care ability to manage their ostomies. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. A convenience sampling method was used to recruit 168 Jordanian patients with intestinal ostomies. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect the data. Results: On average, the participants’ physiological ostomy-related problem scores were 8.76 ± 2.37 (out of 13 problems) and the total score of self-care ability to manage their ostomies was 16.56 ± 2.62 (out of 24). About 22% of the participants had ‘moderately severe’ to ‘severe’ depression (nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire score ≥15) and 33.9% had ‘moderate’ to ‘severe’ anxiety (seven-item General Anxiety Disorder questionnaire score ≥10). About half of the participants had exposure to teaching and/or training about ostomy care. About 85% of participants were willing to attend health education and training programmes about ostomy care. There was a significant correlation between high ostomates’ self-care ability to manage their ostomies and a low number of physiological health problems (r = −0.67, p = 0.04), a low depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9) score (r = −0.54, p = 0.039) and a low anxiety (seven-item General Anxiety Disorder questionnaire) score (r = −0.71, p < 0.027). Conclusions: Health teaching and training about intestinal ostomy management, psychosocial support, follow-up assessment and treatment for ostomy-related problems are recommended for all ostomates.