ACCEPTANCE OF OSTOMY SURGERY - A SWEDISH PILOT-STUDY

The main purpose of this pilot study was instrument development, focused on personal adjustment following ostomy surgery. Two instruments were used: a translated and revised version of the Acceptance of Disability Scale, Modified (ADM), and Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence (SOC) questionnaire. A sample of 26 patients enrolled consecutively at the Ostomy Care Centre at a Swedish hospital were included in the study. A Cronbach's coefficient alpha of 0.95 was obtained for the ADM Scale, Swedish version, which is consistent with the results of similar studies. A significant difference between the ADM scores and type of ostomy surgery indicated that persons with a continent ostomy had a greater acceptance of ostomy surgery than had subjects with conventional ostomy surgery. A close correlation between ADM and SOC was obtained, indicating that persons who accept ostomy surgery will also have a good sense of coherence. The result of this pilot study indicates that further research using both measures may be useful in order to identify which factors are of relevance for nursing practice.