Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate a postsurgical ostomy patient support program in regard to postsurgical experience, education, skin care, pouching system and accessory use, insurance issues, supplier assistance, hospital readmission status, and the benefit of multiple interactions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional design. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Potential respondents were randomly selected from a group of adults 18 years or older who underwent ostomy surgery within 6 months prior to survey completion. Nine hundred seventy-one individuals met inclusion criteria, and 297 were selected for analysis, based on having 1 or more program interactions. Data were collected between the second and third quarters of 2020. All participants were residents of the United States. METHODS: Participants were contacted by e-mail containing an invitation to participate in a survey; the e-mail also described the intent of the survey. Survey distribution was conducted by the sponsor and linked to a third-party survey management organization for compilation. The survey questionnaire, developed specifically for the purpose of this study, comprised 73 items that queried demographic and pertinent clinical data, participation in an industry-sponsored patient support program, and their post-hospital discharge experiences including unplanned health care provider visits, emergency department visits, and hospital readmissions. RESULTS: Eighty-three percent (n = 237) of respondents did not have postsurgical ostomy-related emergency department visits, 75% (n = 223) did not have related unplanned physician visits, and 90% (n = 268) did not have related hospitalizations. Participants with 2 or more interactions were more likely to contact a program representative for issues of stoma care, leakage and skin care, ostomy products/accessories, and supplier issues than their single-interaction counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings suggest that patients with new ostomies benefited from engagement in an industry-sponsored patient support program. The benefit appears to arise from personal interactions and respondents; 2 or more interactions were shown to have greater benefit than a single interaction.