Better stoma care using the Stoma App: does it help? A first randomized double-blind clinical trial on the effect of mobile healthcare on quality of life in stoma patients.
Surg Endosc
; 38(3): 1442-1453, 2024 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38191813
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Receiving a stoma significantly impacts patients' quality of life. Coping with this new situation can be difficult, which may result in a variety of physical and psychosocial problems. It is essential to provide adequate guidance to help patients cope with their stoma, as this positively influences self-efficacy in return. Higher self-efficacy reduces psychosocial problems increasing patient's quality of life. This study investigates whether a new mobile application, the Stoma App, improves quality of life. And if personalized guidance, timed support, and peer contact offered as an in-app surplus makes a difference.METHODS:
A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted between March 2021 and April 2023. Patients aged > 18 years undergoing ileostomy or colostomy surgery, in possession of a compatible smartphone were included. The intervention group received the full version of the app containing personalized and time guidance, peer support, and generic (non-personalized) stoma-related information. The control group received a restricted version with only generic information. Primary outcome was stoma quality of life. Secondary outcomes included psychological adaption, complications, re-admittance, reoperations, and length of hospital stay.RESULTS:
The intervention version of the app was used by 96 patients and the control version by 112 patients. After correction for confounding, the intervention group reported a significant 3.1-point improvement in stoma-related quality of life one month postoperatively (p = 0.038). On secondary outcomes, no significant improvements could be retrieved of the intervention group.CONCLUSION:
The Stoma App improves the quality of life of stoma patients. Peer support and personalized guidance are of significant importance in building self-efficacy. It is to be recommended to implement Stoma app-freely available software qualifying as a medical device-in standard stoma care pathways for the benefits of both patients and healthcare providers.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Estomas Cirúrgicos
/
Aplicativos Móveis
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Guideline
Limite:
Adult
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Surg Endosc
Assunto da revista:
DIAGNOSTICO POR IMAGEM
/
GASTROENTEROLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Holanda