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. 2025 Jul 10;13(1):767.
doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-03112-1.

Determining the perception of stigma of individuals with ostomies

Azize Karahan  1 , Ebru Akgün Çıtak  2 , Banu Çevik  3 , Aysel Abbasoğlu  1 , Ziyafet Uğurlu  1
Affiliations

Determining the perception of stigma of individuals with ostomies

Azize Karahan et al. BMC Psychol. .

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study is to determine the stigmatization perceived by individuals with intestinal ostomy to recognize these issues and assist them in the adjustment to having an ostomy.

Methods: The study is descriptive and qualitative study. Interviews were conducted with a total of 14 individuals who were able to communicate, and had a permanent intestinal ostomy in the outpatient center of a university hospital. The content analysis method was used in data analysis.

Results: Three main themes and seven subthemes were identified. The main themes were "perceived stigma", "changes in life" and "emotional responses". The majority of the patients experienced internalized stigma.

Conclusion: In this study, individuals with intestinal ostomies perceveid both internalized and experienced stigma. Negative feelings with perceived stigma restricted social lives, decreased relationships with relatives, neighbors, and friends, reduced the desire to go out and negatively affected body image and sexual life. Education programs can be organized to help them cope with this situation.

Keywords: Colostomy; Ileostomy; Ostomy; Quality of life; Stigmatization; Stoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Başkent University (Project no: KA18/183). All stages of the study were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The purpose of the study was explained to the participants by the researchers, and each participant was asked to read and sign a consent form allowing interviews, access to medical records, and audio recording. All participants provided written informed consent before data collection. Consent for publication: Not appliable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Themes and subthemes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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