Psychosocial Burden and Quality of Life among Adult Ostomates: A Narrative Review with Implications for Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71146/kjmr495Keywords:
Ostomy, stoma, psychosocial adaptation, quality of life, body image, stigma, PakistanAbstract
Ostomy surgery, while frequently life-saving, imposes a substantial psychosocial burden on affected individuals. This narrative review examines the physical, psychological, and social consequences of living with a stoma, drawing on global, regional, and Pakistan-specific literature. Across settings, disturbances in body image, anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal are consistently reported among ostomates, with stigma, limited specialist services, and inadequate post-operative support compounding these effects in low-resource contexts such as Pakistan. Evidence suggests that structured education, psychosocial counselling, and peer support can mitigate emotional distress and improve adaptation, yet such interventions remain limited and poorly standardized, particularly in South Asia. These findings highlight the need for holistic, culturally sensitive models of ostomy care that address psychosocial as well as physical self-care needs.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Natasha Hussain, Iram Khadim, Muhammad Umar, Rizwan Khalid (Author)
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