Health-related quality of life of patients living with ostomy in Thailand and cost implications

Background: Ostomy surgery profoundly affects life of the patient, both physically and psychologically. Health- Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) is an important evaluation of health outcome that has not been studied in Thai patients with ostomy.

Objectives: We determined HRQOL of patients living with ostomy, correlated factors, and average cost of ostomy supplies per month.

Methods: Cross-sectional study with questionnaires was carried out given to 107 patients with ostomy at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Self-administered individual factors questionnaire, WHOQOL-BREFTHAI questionnaire, and ostomy appliances satisfaction questionnaire surveys were employed.

Results: Response rate was 75.9%. Cronbach’s alpha of the WHOQOL-BREF-THAI questionnaire was 0.883. The mean of overall HRQOL scores was 82.5 (SD = 11.0) out of 130. It reveals that most participants had moderate HRQOL levels and were satisfied with ostomy appliances. Social relationships domain of WHOQOL-BREF-THAI had the highest number of participants who had poor HRQOL level. Significant factors related to HRQOL were gender, age groups, obesity, marital status, payment scheme, financial status, skin disorders, and underlying diseases. The mean cost of ostomy supplies per month per stoma was 1,770 Thai Baht (SD = 858.9). One-piece ostomy appliance system had lower cost with better HRQOL scores and better ostomy appliances satisfaction scores. However, the sample size was limited for the one-piece system.

Conclusion: Most Thai patients living with ostomy have moderate quality of life, and they adjust well. The social relationships compromises are major issues that healthcare professionals should address with this group of patients. Ostomy supplies can be an important expense for patients.