The Effect of Mobile Health Education on Adaptation to Stoma, Self-efficacy, and Peristomal Lesions

Ostomates need to learn to cope with new self-care routines and emotional problems related to changes in body image and self-perception. This learning process is defined as psychosocial adjustment. Adaptation of the patient to the stoma after surgery is part of the process in which the patient re-coordinates the body, self, and external world. In addition to the follow-up process after surgical treatments, psychosocial adjustment is one of the most important factors that define SE and quality of life.

Bandura (1994) defines SE as the belief that people can effectively initiate the necessary activities and reach results in events related to their lives. In other words, SE is a dynamic cognitive process that expresses the confidence of individuals with a stoma in their own ability to be successful in stoma care. SE plays an important role in adapting to the stoma. Not only do individuals who can self-care better adapt to a stoma.

Structured education has an important place in the ability of ostomates to cope with these problems. This training is indispensable, as it helps ostomates cope with physical, psychological, and social difficulties. Face-to-face training given during hospitalization is a traditional and effective method designed to impart new information and self-care behavior. However, it has its limitations. This type of training is time-consuming, and retaining the given information is often difficult for patients, as they experience postoperative anxiety and pain. In addition, the number of ostomy and wound care nurses in Turkey is not sufficient. When ostomates experience a problem with their stoma, they may not be able to contact the ostomy nurse. Considering that stomas are usually applied to cancer patients, their general condition deteriorates due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. For this reason, it is important that ostomates receive information on living with a stoma in their mobile environment, thus having such information accessible at any time through their smartphones.

The literature contains limited studies comparing the effects of face-to-face/booklet and mobile training on the adaptation, self-efficacy, and peristomal skin complications of ostomates. Accordingly, this study evaluated the effect of the mobile application and booklet training in the education of ostomates on the adaptation and skin complications of ostomates. Thus, the study examined the effect of using innovative, technology-based education approaches in the education of ostomates, offering a significant contribution to the literature and individual-centered care.

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years of age and older
• Literate,
• Without any physical and psychological disabilities,
• Able to use smartphones
• Willing to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who were in the same room or underwent a urostomy were not included in the study.