Bakgrund: En tarmstomi kan innebära stora fysiska och psykiska förändringar samt begränsningar i en patients liv. Kolorektalcancer och inflammatoriska tarmsjukdomar är de vanligaste orsakerna till tarmstomi. Stomiterapeuter är specialutbildade sjuksköterskor, när denna personalgrupp inte finns att tillgå, är det grundutbildade sjuksköterskors som tillgodoser omvårdnaden för patienten. Syfte: Att belysa patientens upplevelse av att leva med tarmstomi. Metod: En allmän litteraturöversikt baserad på elva kvalitativa artiklar. Resultat: Analysen resulterade i fyra teman. Påverkan i det dagliga livet, förändrade vanor som påverkade patientens liv. Kroppsuppfattningen, tarmstomin förändrade patientens syn på sin kropp. Stöd, om vikten av sjuksköterskans roll i omvårdnaden. Information, från sjuksköterskan utgjorde en viktig del i omvårdnaden av egenvård. Slutsats: Det är viktigt att sjuksköterskan i sin roll anpassar omvårdnaden individuellt samt beaktar patienten utifrån patientens individuella behov. Sjuksköterskans kan i sin roll motivera patienten till delaktighet i sin egenvård samt ge stöd för patienten till anpassningen av tarmstomin. Genom att förhålla sig till den personcentrerade vården kan sjuksköterskan beakta hela patientens upplevelse samt få en djupare kunskap av att förstå patientens upplevelse av att leva med tarmstomi. Fortsatt forskning: Som sjuksköterska är det viktigt att hela tiden ta del av aktuell forskning i syfte att förbättra omvårdnaden av patienter med tarmstomi. Vidare forskning behövs, då specifikt forskning saknades inom område personcentrerad- och tarmstomivård. / Background: An intestinal stoma could mean great physical and mental changes and restrictions in a patient's life. Colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases are the most common causes of intestinal stoma. Stoma therapists are specially trained nurses, when they are not available, it is ordinary nurses that cater to the care of the patient. Aim: To illuminate the patient's experience of living with intestinal stoma. Method: A general literature review based on eleven qualitative articles. Results: The analysis resulted in four themes. Impact on daily life, change of habits that affect the patient's life. Body image, intestinal stoma changed the patient’s view of their body. Support, the importance of the nurse's role in nursing. Information, provided by the nurse was an important element in the self-care. Conclusion: It is of importance that the nurses in their role adapts the care individually and take into account the patient based on the patient’s individual needs. The nurse can also motivate the patient to participate in self-care and provide support for the patient to the adjustment of the intestinal stoma. By relating to the person-centered care the nurse can take the patient’s whole experience into account and gain a deeper knowledge of understanding the patient’s experience of living with an intestinal stoma. Continued research: As a nurse, it is important to always take note of current research in order to improve the care of patients with intestinal stoma. Further research is needed, since specific research was lacking in the area person-centrered and intestinal stoma care

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a qualidade de vida do paciente com estoma intestinal secundário ao câncer cólon-retal na cidade de Aracaju-Se. Trata-se de estudo descritivo-exploratório, na vertente quantitativa, utilizando-se um instrumento contendo três partes, dados sócio-demográficos e clínicos, itens referentes à Escala de Qualidade de Vida de Flanagan (EQVF), e EORTC-QLQ-C-30. A amostra constou de 18 pacientes atendidos no Centro de Oncologia Dr Oswaldo Leite, localizado na cidade de Aracaju – Sergipe no período de janeiro a dezembro de 2005. Os instrumentos mostraram propriedades psicométricas satisfatórias quanto à consistência interna e validade do construto. Quanto às características sócio-demográficas e clínicas, 50% eram do sexo feminino, e 50% masculino. A média de idade foi de 51,3 anos. Quanto à localização do tumor, 38,9% tumor de reto, seguida de cólon-retal 33,3% e cólon 27,8%. 83,3% apresentavam metástase e 16,7% não apresentavam. Em relação ao tipo de estoma, 72,2% tinham colostomia definitiva e 27,8% colostomia provisória. 77,8% dos pacientes apresentaram menos de um ano de estoma e 22,2% mais de um ano de estoma. A análise de qualidade de vida da amostra mostra para EQVF média de 52,3 (DP=1,40) para EQVF Geral. Para EORTC QLQ-C30, a média estado geral de saúde foi de 35,64 (DP=12,39). Foram estatisticamente significativos os resultados obtidos nas escalas: relações com outras pessoas, atividades sociais e desenvolvimento pessoal e realização. Pacientes com menos de um ano de estoma, apresentam maior atividade social,desenvolvimento pessoal e realização do que aqueles com mais de um ano de estoma. Foram estatisticamente significativas as escalas: função física, dor, estado geral de saúde, dificuldades financeiras, dispnéia, fadiga, náusea e vômito, constipação e função emocional. A função física teve como variável estatisticamente significante o estado civil, com maior média entre pessoas casadas, assim como a escala dor, porém com maior média entre as pessoas viúvas. A função física entre as pessoas casadas foi maior. No sintoma dor, a presença desta, foi maior entre o grupo de pessoas viúvas e separadas. Na escala estado geral de saúde, foram estatisticamente significativos o sexo e complicações do estoma, com médias superiores entre aqueles do sexo masculino e com presença de complicações. Na escala dificuldades financeiras, a procedência e as complicações do estoma foram estatisticamente significantes. Com maiores médias entre aqueles da área rural e com presença de complicações do estoma. No sintoma dispnéia, a variável estatisticamente significante foi a presença ou não de metástase, com maior média entre aqueles com metástases. Já os sintomas fadiga, náusea e vômitos e constipação, apresentou como única variável estatisticamente significante o tempo de estoma. Na escala função emocional, a variável complicações do estoma foi estatisticamente significante, havendo maior média entre aqueles com presença de complicações do estoma. A escala relações com outras pessoas foi influenciada pelas variáveis: sexo, tempo de estoma e estado de origem, conforme cálculo de Regressão Linear Múltipla. As escalas função emocional, dispnéia, dificuldade financeira e estado geral de saúde tiveram influência das variáveis sexo, estado civil, estado de procedência, metástase, tempo de estoma e complicações. / The objective of this study was to investigate the quality of life of the patient with secondary intestinal estoma to the cancer colo-retal in the city of Aracaju-Se. This is an description-exploratory study, in the quantitative source, using an instrument contends three parts, given partner-demographic and clinical, itens referring to Scale of Quality of Life of Flanagan (EQVF), and EORTC QLQ-C30. The sample consisted of 18 patients taken care of in the Center of Oncologia Dr Oswaldo Leite located in the city of Aracaju - Sergipe in the period of January to December of 2005. The instruments had shown to satisfactory psicometrics properties such as the internal consistency and validity of construct. About the partner-demographic and clinical characteristics, 50% were of the feminine sex, and 50% masculine. The age average was 51,3 years. About the localization of tumor, 38,9% tumor of rectum, followed 33,3% colo-rectum and colon 27,8%. Metastase were presented by 83,3% and 16.7% didn’t present. In relation to the type of stoma, 72,2% had definitive colostomia and 27,8% provisory colostomia. 77,8% of the patients had presented less than 1 year of stoma and 22,2% more than 1 year of stoma. The analysis of quality of life of the sample shows for average EQVF of 52,3 (DP=1,40) for general EQVF. For EORTC QLQ-C30, the been average general of health was of 35,64 (DP=12,39). The scales had been statisticaly significant: social relations with other people, activities and personal development and accomplishment. Patients with less than one year of stoma, present greater social activity, personal development and accomplishment of that those with more than one year of stoma. The scales had been statistically significant: physical function, pain, general state of health, financial difficulties, dispneia, fatigue, nausea and vomit, constipation and emotional function. The physical function had as changeable statistically significant the civil state, with average greater between married people, as well as the scale pain, however with average greater between the people widowers. The physical function between the married people was bigger. In the symptom pain, the presence of this, it was bigger enters the group of people separate widowers and. In the scale general of health, the sex and complications of stoma had been statisticaly significant, with superior averages between those of the masculine sex and with presence of complications. In the scale financial difficulties, the origin and the complications of stoma they had been statisticaly significant. With average greaters between those of the agricultural area and with presence of complications of stoma. In the dispneia symptom, the statisticaly significant variable was the presence or not of metastase, with average greater it enters those with metastases. Already the symptoms fatigue, nausea and vomits and constipation, the stoma time presented as only statisticaly significant variable. In the scale emotional function, the variable complications of stoma was statisticaly significant, having bigger average between those with presence of complications of stoma. The scale Relations with other people was influenced by the variable: sex, time of stoma and state of origin, as calculation of Multiple Linear Regression. The scales emotional function, dispneia, financial difficulty and general state of health had had influence of the variable sex, civil state, state of origin, metastase, time of stoma and complications.

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a qualidade de vida do paciente com estoma intestinal secundário ao câncer cólon-retal na cidade de Aracaju-Se. Trata-se de estudo descritivo-exploratório, na vertente quantitativa, utilizando-se um instrumento contendo três partes, dados sócio-demográficos e clínicos, itens referentes à Escala de Qualidade de Vida de Flanagan (EQVF), e EORTC-QLQ-C-30. A amostra constou de 18 pacientes atendidos no Centro de Oncologia Dr Oswaldo Leite, localizado na cidade de Aracaju – Sergipe no período de janeiro a dezembro de 2005. Os instrumentos mostraram propriedades psicométricas satisfatórias quanto à consistência interna e validade do construto. Quanto às características sócio-demográficas e clínicas, 50% eram do sexo feminino, e 50% masculino. A média de idade foi de 51,3 anos. Quanto à localização do tumor, 38,9% tumor de reto, seguida de cólon-retal 33,3% e cólon 27,8%. 83,3% apresentavam metástase e 16,7% não apresentavam. Em relação ao tipo de estoma, 72,2% tinham colostomia definitiva e 27,8% colostomia provisória. 77,8% dos pacientes apresentaram menos de um ano de estoma e 22,2% mais de um ano de estoma. A análise de qualidade de vida da amostra mostra para EQVF média de 52,3 (DP=1,40) para EQVF Geral. Para EORTC QLQ-C30, a média estado geral de saúde foi de 35,64 (DP=12,39). Foram estatisticamente significativos os resultados obtidos nas escalas: relações com outras pessoas, atividades sociais e desenvolvimento pessoal e realização. Pacientes com menos de um ano de estoma, apresentam maior atividade social,desenvolvimento pessoal e realização do que aqueles com mais de um ano de estoma. Foram estatisticamente significativas as escalas: função física, dor, estado geral de saúde, dificuldades financeiras, dispnéia, fadiga, náusea e vômito, constipação e função emocional. A função física teve como variável estatisticamente significante o estado civil, com maior média entre pessoas casadas, assim como a escala dor, porém com maior média entre as pessoas viúvas. A função física entre as pessoas casadas foi maior. No sintoma dor, a presença desta, foi maior entre o grupo de pessoas viúvas e separadas. Na escala estado geral de saúde, foram estatisticamente significativos o sexo e complicações do estoma, com médias superiores entre aqueles do sexo masculino e com presença de complicações. Na escala dificuldades financeiras, a procedência e as complicações do estoma foram estatisticamente significantes. Com maiores médias entre aqueles da área rural e com presença de complicações do estoma. No sintoma dispnéia, a variável estatisticamente significante foi a presença ou não de metástase, com maior média entre aqueles com metástases. Já os sintomas fadiga, náusea e vômitos e constipação, apresentou como única variável estatisticamente significante o tempo de estoma. Na escala função emocional, a variável complicações do estoma foi estatisticamente significante, havendo maior média entre aqueles com presença de complicações do estoma. A escala relações com outras pessoas foi influenciada pelas variáveis: sexo, tempo de estoma e estado de origem, conforme cálculo de Regressão Linear Múltipla. As escalas função emocional, dispnéia, dificuldade financeira e estado geral de saúde tiveram influência das variáveis sexo, estado civil, estado de procedência, metástase, tempo de estoma e complicações. / The objective of this study was to investigate the quality of life of the patient with secondary intestinal estoma to the cancer colo-retal in the city of Aracaju-Se. This is an description-exploratory study, in the quantitative source, using an instrument contends three parts, given partner-demographic and clinical, itens referring to Scale of Quality of Life of Flanagan (EQVF), and EORTC QLQ-C30. The sample consisted of 18 patients taken care of in the Center of Oncologia Dr Oswaldo Leite located in the city of Aracaju - Sergipe in the period of January to December of 2005. The instruments had shown to satisfactory psicometrics properties such as the internal consistency and validity of construct. About the partner-demographic and clinical characteristics, 50% were of the feminine sex, and 50% masculine. The age average was 51,3 years. About the localization of tumor, 38,9% tumor of rectum, followed 33,3% colo-rectum and colon 27,8%. Metastase were presented by 83,3% and 16.7% didn’t present. In relation to the type of stoma, 72,2% had definitive colostomia and 27,8% provisory colostomia. 77,8% of the patients had presented less than 1 year of stoma and 22,2% more than 1 year of stoma. The analysis of quality of life of the sample shows for average EQVF of 52,3 (DP=1,40) for general EQVF. For EORTC QLQ-C30, the been average general of health was of 35,64 (DP=12,39). The scales had been statisticaly significant: social relations with other people, activities and personal development and accomplishment. Patients with less than one year of stoma, present greater social activity, personal development and accomplishment of that those with more than one year of stoma. The scales had been statistically significant: physical function, pain, general state of health, financial difficulties, dispneia, fatigue, nausea and vomit, constipation and emotional function. The physical function had as changeable statistically significant the civil state, with average greater between married people, as well as the scale pain, however with average greater between the people widowers. The physical function between the married people was bigger. In the symptom pain, the presence of this, it was bigger enters the group of people separate widowers and. In the scale general of health, the sex and complications of stoma had been statisticaly significant, with superior averages between those of the masculine sex and with presence of complications. In the scale financial difficulties, the origin and the complications of stoma they had been statisticaly significant. With average greaters between those of the agricultural area and with presence of complications of stoma. In the dispneia symptom, the statisticaly significant variable was the presence or not of metastase, with average greater it enters those with metastases. Already the symptoms fatigue, nausea and vomits and constipation, the stoma time presented as only statisticaly significant variable. In the scale emotional function, the variable complications of stoma was statisticaly significant, having bigger average between those with presence of complications of stoma. The scale Relations with other people was influenced by the variable: sex, time of stoma and state of origin, as calculation of Multiple Linear Regression. The scales emotional function, dispneia, financial difficulty and general state of health had had influence of the variable sex, civil state, state of origin, metastase, time of stoma and complications.

Bakgrund: Stomi innebär att tarmen löper ut på bukväggen och orsaken till stomibildningen är varierande. Stomin kan vara permanent eller temporär och kan anläggas från tunntarmen och kallas då ileostomi eller tjocktarmen vilket benämns som kolostomi. Sjuksköterskan ansvarar för att utbilda och informera personen och dess anhöriga om stomin där målet är att uppnå egenvård. Inom stomivården är det viktigt att arbeta utifrån en personcentrerad vård för att få en ökad förståelse för personernas upplevelser och öka personens autonomi. Syfte: Litteraturstudiens syfte var att belysa vuxna personers upplevelse av att leva med en stomi. Metod: En litteraturstudie med kvalitativ inriktning har genomförts. Databassökningen utgår från tre databaser (Cinahl, PubMed och PsycInfo) där sökningarna baserats på fritextord såväl som ämnesord. Efter sökningen påbörjades urvalsprocessen och sedan kvalitetsgranskades artiklarna utifrån en kvalitetsgranskningsmall från SBU med en följande analys vilket resulterade i två kategorier och sex underkategorier. Resultat: Det första kategorierna som identifierades var “Upplevelsen av förändrat liv”, med underkategorierna “förändrad kroppsbild”, “förlust av kontroll”, “påverkan på relationer och social isolering”, “ett avbrott i livet” och “positiva upplevelser och acceptansens utveckling”. Andra kategorin var “det professionella bemötandet”. Konklusion: Avslutningsvis identifierades det att stomibildningen påverkade personens fysiska, psykiska och sociala välbefinnande och upplevelsen av att leva med en stomi varierade från person till person och acceptansen av att leva med en stomi utvecklades med tiden. / Background: A stoma means that a part of the intestines come out on the abdominal wall and the reasons a person receives a stoma is very variable. A stoma can be permanent or temporary and can be established from the small intestine and is called ileostomy, if the stoma is established from the colon it is called colostomy. Nurses have the responsibility to educate and inform the person and their relatives about the stoma and that the end goal is to be able to perform self-care on the stoma. Within stoma care it’s important that the work is based on person centered care to achieve a better understanding for the person's experience where the result will be an increased autonomy. Aim: The aim of the literature review was to illustrate an adult person's experience of living with a stoma. Method: The literature review was conducted with a qualitative method. The search for studies was made in three databases (Cinahl, PubMed and PsycInfo) the search was based on freetext words and subjectwords. After the search the selection process started and the qualitative examination with SBU review template. After the analysis which resulted in two main categories and six subcategories. Results: The first category that was identified was “The experience of a changed life” with the subcategories “Changed body image”, “The loss of control”, “An interruption of life” and “Positive experiences and the development of acceptance”. The second category that was identified was “The professional treatment”. Conclusion: It was identified that the stoma formation affected the person's physical, psychological and social well-being. But with time the person will learn to accept the stoma and adapt it to their daily life.

Bakgrund: Antalet människor som lever med tarmstomi ökar. Omvårdnaden hanterar patienterna på egen hand, vilket innebär att egenvården för dessa blir central. Sjuksköterskan har en viktig funktion i att motivera och ge den kunskap som behövs för att optimera egenvården. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att belysa patienters erfarenheter av att leva med tarmstomi. Metod: Studien är en kvalitativ litteraturöversikt baserad på elva vetenskapliga artiklar. Resultat: Upplevelserna av att leva med en tarmstomi varierade i stor omfattning. Graden av stöd de mottog påverkade acceptansen och hur det upplevdes att leva med stomi. Det rådde delade åsikter kring hur mycket livet förändrades, vissa upplevde frihet och autonomi, vissa isolerades och begränsades. Patienterna fick anpassa livet efter stomin och hitta strategier som fungerade. Många känslor uppstod i livet med tarmstomi, såsom rädsla, skam, oro och frustration. Konklusion: Upplevelsen av att leva med tarmstomi varierar mycket. Patienterna får genomgå förändringar på flera områden i livet. Alla nya förändringar påverkar patienternas psykiska och fysiska välbefinnande. För att hantera alla känslor och vardagliga prövningar skapade patienterna olika strategier. Det upplevda stödet från närstående och vårdpersonal har inflytande på omställningen. Sjuksköterskan har en viktig roll i att främja egenvården och stötta patienten i sin förändrade livsvärld. / Background: The number of people living with a bowel ostomy is increasing. The patients manage the nursing on their own, which means that self-care becomes central. The nurse has an important role in motivating and providing the knowledge needed for optimal self-care. Aim: The purpose of this study is to highlight patients' experiences of living with a bowel stoma. Method: The study is a qualitative literature review based on eleven scientific articles. Findings: The experiences of living with a bowel stoma varied. The level of support they received affected their acceptance and experience of living with a stoma. The opinions on how life changed were manifold, some experienced freedom and autonomy, some isolation and restriction. The patients had to adapt and find strategies that worked. Many emotions arose with a bowel ostomy, such as fear, shame, worry and frustration. Conclusion: Living with an intestinal stoma varies greatly. Patients may undergo changes in several areas of life. All new changes affect patients' mental and physical well-being. Different strategies were created to cope with emotions and everyday trials. The perceived support from relatives and care staff affects the transition. The nurse plays an important role in promoting self-care and supporting the patient’s new life.

Tusentals personer i Sverige lever med en tarmstomi idag och sjuksköterskor kommer med största sannolikhet stöta på patienter med stomi i det kliniska arbetet. Att få en stomi innebär förändringar och nya utmaningar i en persons liv. Patienter måste anpassa sig till en förändrad kroppsbild liksom en ny tillvaro där stomin ingår som en del av vardagen. Många patienter upplever förändringarna som mentalt, socialt och fysiskt utmanande. Eftersom vården i Sverige grundas i ett holistiskt förhållningssätt är det viktigt att sjuksköterskor tar hänsyn till alla aspekter av hälsa liksom patienters upplevda välbefinnande vid omvårdnad. Medvetenhet om patienters upplevelser av att få en tarmstomi kan vägleda sjuksköterskor i omvårdnadsarbetet och säkerställa att stomiopererade patienters behov av stödjande insatser tillgodoses på ett tillfredsställande sätt. / Thousands of people in Sweden live with an intestinal stoma today and nurses will most likely encounter these patients during clinical practice. Receiving a stoma changes a persons's life and brings new life challanges. Patients must adapt to a changed bodily image as well as a new way of living where the stoma is a part of everyday life. Many patients experience these life changes as mentally, socially and physically challenging. Healthcare in Sweden is based on a holistic approach and it is of great importance that nurses include all aspects of health as well as patients' perceived well-being while practicing nursing. Knowledge about patients' experiences of receiving an intestinal stoma can guide nursing and ensure that stoma patients' needs are met adequately.

Bakgrund: Tarmstomi innebär en öppning på buken där tarmen läggs ut. Det finns flera anledningar till att få tarmstomi. Tarmstomi kan leda till både positiva och negativa förändringar. Förändringarna kan påverka sexualiteten på olika sätt. Sexualiteten är viktig i människans liv och är ett av de främsta grundläggande behoven. Syfte: Att beskriva erfarenheter och upplevelser av sexualitet hos personer med tarmstomi. Metod: En litteraturöversikt med kvalitativ ansats genomfördes där 10 artiklar kvalitetsgranskades som sedan användes till resultatet. Artiklarna analyserades enligt Fribergs 5-stegsmodell. Resultat: Teman som framkom var påverkan på sexuell aktivitet, påverkan på relation och intimitet samt behov av stöd. Resultatet visade att tarmstomin påverkadepersoner psykiskt och fysiskt. Personer med tarmstomi behövde anpassa sig på olika sätt för att få en god sexualitet. Ofta var erfarenheterna och upplevelserna av sexualiteten negativa hos personer med tarmstomi, på grund av känslan av att vara annorlunda och förlorat kontroll över tarmfunktionen. Slutsats: Tarmstomi påverkar sexualiteten på olika sätt. Anpassningar för den nya kroppsbilden behövs. Hur personer med tarmstomi accepterar den nya kroppsuppfattningen har stor betydelse för sexualiteten. Att upprätthålla rutiner och riktlinjer inom hälso-sjukvården är viktigt för att ge rätt stöd till personer med tarmstomi. / Background: An intestinal stoma is an opening in the abdomen where the intestine is laid out. There are several reasons for having an intestinal stoma. Intestinal stomas can lead to both positive and negative changes. The changes can affect sexuality in different ways. Sexuality is important in a human’s life and is one of the main basic needs. Aim: To describe experiences of sexuality in people with intestinal stoma. Method: A literature review with a qualitative approach was carried out where 10 articles were quality controlled, then used for the result. The articles were analyzed according to Friberg's 5-step model. Results: The themes that emerged were the impact on sexual activity, the impact on relationships and intimacy, and the need for support. The results showed that intestinal stoma affects people psychologically and physically. People with intestinal stoma had to adapt in different ways to have a good sexuality. Often, the experiences of sexuality were negative in people with an intestinal stoma because of the feeling of being different and losing control over bowel function. Conclusion: Intestinal stoma affects sexuality in different ways. Adjustments for the new body image are needed. How people with an intestinal stoma accept the new body image has great significance for sexuality. Developing routines and guidelines in healthcare is important to provide the right support for people with intestinal stoma.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-02T13:54:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AndreiaMagelladaSilvaDuarteEsteves-dissertacao.pdf: 480009 bytes, checksum: 6d725edbfd0da5232a30389f24cb5223 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-10-09 / An intestinal stoma produces numerous changes in patients' lives, a fact that requires adaptation and can change their quality of life. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the quality of life of patients with intestinal stomas registered in the Ostomized Patient Program of Stoma of an outpatient service in a municipality in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. This is an epidemiological, descriptive, cross-sectional quantitative study that included 13 ostomized patients who were interviewed at home in July and August 2007. Two instruments were used to collect data: (1) characterization of participants and (2) the WHOQOL-Bref, for the "quality of life". For data collection, the interviewees signed an informed consent form, and the protocol was approved by the UNIFENAS Committee of Ethics in Research. The software SPSS version 10 was used for data analysis and the Chi-square and the Cronbach alpha tests were used for the crossing of variables. The results showed that most of the patients were 61 years or older, female, from urban areas, catholic, had elementary school; widow / separated / divorced, had 1 to 3 children and family income of 4 to 6 times the minimum wage. With respect to the physiological need for sleep, 61.5% of the population studied had insomnia, a situation that was aggravated after ostomy. Most of them reported 1 to 2 intestinal evacuations per day, with a pasty consistency. Their greatest difficulty was to adapt themselves to the stoma. When crossing gender and marital status with the difficulty of adapting to the bag and self-care, there was statistical significance. Most respondents did not return to sports, work, and sexual and social activities after ostomy, and showed increased feelings of loneliness, contempt, tearfulness and dependence. Their family was the main help. The most evident complications were bleeding and peristomal dermatitis. With regard to the rights of the ostomized, 84.6% reported having been informed by the physician and / or outpatient clinic and the main way of acquiring the collection equipment is through the SUS, free of charge. The measurements of the quality of life of this population were: mean score of overall QOL, 3.61; physical domain, 3.40; psychological domain, 3.43; social relationships domain, 3.46;and the environment domain, 3, 49. The higher average scores rated the quality of life as being above the "neither bad nor good." The WHOQOL-bref was effective to evaluate the QOL of patients with intestinal stomas, with internal consistency above 0.72. Finally, it is important that the ostomized patients be informed about their disease, and receive emotional support and rehabilitation care in order to be able to lead an active, productive and self-sufficient life. / Um estoma intestinal gera inúmeras alterações na vida dos pacientes, fato que requer adaptação e pode alterar sua qualidade de vida. Sendo assim, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar a qualidade de vida dos portadores de estomias intestinais cadastrados no Programa de Estomizados de um serviço ambulatorial em um município do sul de Minas Gerais. Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico, descritivo, transversal, quantitativo. Participaram do estudo 13 estomizados, que foram entrevistados em suas residências, nos meses de julho e agosto de 2007. Para a coleta dos dados utilizaram-se dois instrumentos: um, de caracterização dos participantes, e outro, referente à qualidade de vida , sendo usado o WHOQOL-Bref. A coleta de dados seguiu os preceitos éticos, onde os entrevistados assinaram um Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido e tiveram anuência do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da UNIFENAS. Para análise dos dados utilizou-se o software SPSS versão 10 e, no cruzamento das variáveis, aplicou-se o teste do qui-quadrado, além do Coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach. Os resultados demonstraram que a maioria dos pacientes estudados tinha 61 anos ou mais, era do sexo feminino; procedente da zona urbana; da religião católica; tinha o primeiro grau incompleto; estava viúvo/desquitado/divorciado; tinha 1 a 3 filhos e renda familiar de 4 a 6 salários mínimos. Com relação à necessidade fisiológica de sono, 61,5% da população estudada demonstrou apresentar insônia, situação que foi agravada após a confecção do estoma. Quanto à freqüência e características das eliminações intestinais, a maioria referiu de 1 a 2 eliminações diárias, com consistência pastosa. A maior dificuldade de adaptação referida pelos estomizados foi com relação ao estoma. Ao cruzar as variáveis sexo e estado civil com a dificuldade de adaptação à bolsa e ao autocuidado, houve significância estatística. A maioria dos entrevistados não retornou às atividades esportivas, de trabalho, sexuais e sociais após a realização da estomia, onde se observou um aumento de sentimentos, como solidão, desprezo, choro fácil e dependência. A principal ajuda referida pela população estudada foi da família. As complicações mais evidenciadas foram sangramento e dermatite periestomal. Quanto aos direitos dos estomizados, 84,6% referiram ter sido informados pelo médico e/ou serviço ambulatorial e a principal forma de aquisição dos equipamentos coletores é a gratuita através do SUS. Quanto à qualidade de vida desta população, o escore médio da QV geral foi de 3,61; do domínio físico, 3,40; domínio psicológico, 3,43; domínio relações sociais, 3,46; e domínio meio ambiente, 3,49, evidenciando elevados escores médios, que classificam a qualidade de vida como sendo acima do nem ruim, nem boa . O WHOQOL-bref mostrou-se eficaz para avaliar a QV de pacientes com estomias intestinais, apresentando consistência interna superior a 0,72. Por fim, é importante que o estomizado seja informado acerca de sua doença, recebendo aporte emocional que lhe garanta suporte e reabilitação, sendo capaz de levar uma vida ativa, produtiva e autossuficiente.