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Preoperative dummy stoma education reduced anxiety and improved adjustment in ostomy patients in RCT

Preoperative dummy stoma education reduced anxiety and improved adjustment in ostomy patients in RCT
Photo by Tim Cooper / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Consider preoperative dummy stoma education may reduce anxiety, but effect size and safety are unknown.

A randomized controlled trial conducted in Istanbul between 2021 and 2023 enrolled 78 patients aged 18 years or older who underwent colostomy or ileostomy for any indication. The experimental group received structured preoperative stoma education that included a wearable dummy stoma as an artefact-based tool for hands-on training, while the control group received standard care. Outcomes were assessed at discharge and at weeks 3 and 6.

The intervention group showed significantly lower anxiety levels during the first postoperative stoma encounter compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Stoma adjustment was better in the experimental group at discharge, week 3, and week 6 (p < 0.001 at all time points). Stoma self-efficacy levels were also greater in the experimental group at the same time points (p < 0.001).

No safety, adverse event, or tolerability data were reported. The study did not report a primary outcome, effect sizes, absolute numbers, confidence intervals, or specific limitations. Funding and conflicts of interest were also not reported.

While the RCT design supports causal inference and results were statistically significant, the lack of effect size quantification and safety data limits clinical interpretation. The findings suggest this educational approach may benefit psychological outcomes in this specific population, but more complete reporting is needed to assess its practical utility.

Study Details

Study typeRct
Sample sizen = 78
EvidenceLevel 2
PublishedApr 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
AIMS: This study aimed to determine the effects of preoperative stoma education including a wearable dummy stoma on stoma-related anxiety, adjustment and self-efficacy in patients undergoing colostomy/ileostomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomised controlled trial was conducted in Istanbul between 2021 and 2023. The study included 78 patients aged 18 years or older who underwent colostomy/ileostomy for any indication. Patients in the experimental group received structured preoperative stoma education including a wearable dummy stoma designed as an artefact-based tool to support hands-on stoma care training, whereas those in the control group received standard care. Data were collected with the Stoma Self-Efficacy Scale, Ostomy Adjustment Inventory (at discharge and at weeks 3 and 6) and State Anxiety Inventory (during the first stoma encounter). RESULTS: Compared with those in the control group, patients in the experimental group demonstrated significantly lower anxiety levels during the first postoperative stoma encounter (p < 0.001), better stoma adjustment (p < 0.001 at discharge and at weeks 3 and 6) and greater stoma self-efficacy levels (p < 0.001 at discharge and at weeks 3 and 6). CONCLUSION: Preoperative stoma education including a wearable dummy stoma effectively reduced stoma-related anxiety during the first stoma encounter and improved stoma adjustment and self-efficacy in patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05308693.
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