Title : Elderly partners experience of colorectal cancer diagnosis, surgery, and ostomy
Abstract:
Topic/Introduction: Bladder and colorectal cancer (CRC) are aggressive types of cancer with treatment creating physical and psychosocial comorbidities affecting the quality of life of patients. Numerous studies were conducted on the experiences and needs of these patients, but studies on the elderly partners (65-84 y/o) were negligible, thus, they may have distinct experiences, needs, and challenges that are unknown and warrant attention.
Purposes: The purpose of this study was to illuminate the experiences of elderly partners of ostomates, 65 to 84 years old, with bladder and/or CRC.
Methodology: Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological method and narrative descriptions were used to address the knowledge gap. Partners of ostomates with bladder or CRC, 65-84 years of age, English reading and speaking, cognitively intact (Mini-CogTM with Clock Drawing Test score of 3-5), literate at better than the 6th-grade reading level (Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine—Short Form, score >4), and agreed in one-on-one audiotaped interview constituted the sample. The interviews were taped, transcribed, and analyzed to identify themes.
Results: Eleven participants were recruited from support groups within Los Angeles, Orange, Inland Empire counties who were partners of ostomates with bladder and/or CRC. Three Caucasian males and eight females met the inclusion criteria, completed the interview, and constituted the sample. Five themes emerged that illuminated the partners’ experience: (a) feeling supported, (b) providing support to the ostomates with cancer, (c) expressed needs, (d) accepting/adjusting to diagnosis/treatment/ostomy, and (e) advocating for the ostomate.
Conclusion: The findings suggested that the young- to middle-old adult partners’ experiences mirror those of younger partners of ostomy patients with bladder and/or CRC, but their experiences differed in their expressed needs and the lack of importance of sexuality. The findings may serve as the foundation for future studies to improve the care of the elderly partners of ostomates with a bladder and/or CRC.
Audience Take Away:
- The nurse will be able to assess not only the patient with ostomy and address their needs but will be able to assess the needs of their partners.
- This study will help the nurses and all the practitioners involved in the care of ostomy patients improve the care of the elderly patient with ostomy and his or her partner.
- This research will add to school of nursing awareness of the needs of elderly patients with ostomy and their partners by teaching their students that patient care of ostomy patients includes the partners and or their caregivers.
