Nurses' viewpoints on factors affecting ostomy care: A qualitative content analysis

Aims Ostomy plays an important role in management of medical conditions, especially postoperative status of colorectal and bladder cancers. Nurses who have the highest contact level with these patients, face many situations while providing care and need to acquire adequate knowledge and practice responding to patients' needs. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of nurses in caring of abdominal ostomy patients.Design A qualitative content analysis study.Methods In this qualitative content analysis study, 17 participants were selected using purposeful sampling method and data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was done using conventional content analysis method.Results Analysis of the findings led to the emergence of 78 sub-subcategories, 20 subcategories and seven main themes, including 'Inefficient educational system', 'Nurse Characteristics', 'Workplace challenges', 'Nature of ostomy care', ' Counseling and preparation of patients for surgery', 'Acquaintance with ostomy complications', and 'Proper planning of patient education'. Results showed that nurses in surgical wards provide non-special ostomy care due to lack of sufficient knowledge and skills and absence of up-to-date and local clinical guidelines which is vital to provide evidence-based scientific care and avoid unfounded and arbitrary care.