The mediating role of perceived stress on the relationship between perceived social support and self-care ability among Chinese enterostomy patients

Aim Many long-term ostomates are ‘out-of-sight’ of healthcare, and it is unknown how ostomates deal with ostomy-related problems and how these problems affect their quality of life (QOL). The aim is to examine patient-related studies describing ostomy-related problems and their impact on the perceived QOL of long-term colostomates. Methods The electronic databases PubMed (MEDLINE), CINAHL, Cochrane Library and PsycINFO were systematically searched. All studies were included in which ostomy-specific QOL was measured using validated multidimensional instruments. Results Of the 6447 citations identified, 14 prevailingly descriptive cross-sectional studies were included. Three different validated multidimensional instruments for measuring QOL in ostomates were used (EORTC C30/CR38, MCOHQOLQO, Stoma QOL Questionnaire). All studies demonstrated that living with a colostomy influences the overall QOL negatively. The ostomy-related problems described included sexual problems, depressive feelings, gas, constipation, dissatisfaction with appearance, change in clothing, travel difficulties, feeling tired and worry about noises. Conclusion In conclusion, all 14 studies gave an indication of the impact of ostomy-related problems on the perceived QOL and demonstrated that a colostomy influences the QOL negatively. There is a wide range of ostomy-specific QOL scores, and there seem to be higher QOL scores in the studies where the MCOHQOLQO instrument was used. The MCOHQOLQO and the Stoma QOL Questionnaire gave the most detailed information about which ostomy-related problems were experienced. This review adds knowledge about the impact of stoma-related problems on QOL of long-term ostomates, but more research has to be conducted, to detect ostomy-related problems and especially possible care needs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11136-015-1050-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The purpose of this review is to examine and synthesize recent literature regarding the relationship between social support and self-care behaviors in individuals with heart failure (HF). Self-care is an important factor in maintaining health and well-being for individuals with heart failure. Self-care behaviors are an integral component of self-care, and may be impacted by the disease process of heart failure. However, social support may positively influence an individual's self-care behaviors by assisting with activities associated with symptom management and evaluation, as well as activities associated with maintaining heart failure-related treatment regimens. This review will synthesize the current knowledge related to the influence of social support on heart failure self-care behaviors. Using an integrative review method, a review of current empirical literature was conducted utilizing CINAHL, PsycARTICLES, and PubMed computerized databases for a period of January 2000 to December 2012. Thirteen studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria for review and investigated aspects of social support and heart failure self-care behaviors. Social support appears to have a positive relationship on heart failure self-care behaviors, with an individual's family playing an important role in assisting individuals to maintain positive self-care behaviors. Social support appears to influence both heart failure self-care maintenance and management related behaviors by assisting with maintaining treatment regimens and by participating in the decision-making process related to the management of symptoms, as well as seeking treatment for symptoms of heart failure. All four types of social support (i.e., emotional support, instrumental/tangible support, informational support, and appraisal support) are involved in the interactive process between an individual's social network (i.e., family and peers) and the individual with heart failure to maintain self-care behaviors that enhance health and well-being. However, more research is needed, specifically longitudinal and experimental designs, to determine the effectiveness of social support on self-care behaviors in individuals with heart failure, since this review revealed mostly cross-sectional, correlational studies which limits the ability to infer causality. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.