Background: Stoma can pose extensive challenges for colorectal cancer survivors. Identifying the psychological and social adjustment among them and how it differs by gender will aid in identifying those particularly at risk of having poor adjustment and in planning programs to improve their adjustment. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of gender on psychosocial adjustment of colorectal cancer survivors with ostomy. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in the stoma clinic of B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, Nepal. A purposive sample of 122 patients with ostomy was taken from the above mentioned setting. Selection criteria included colorectal cancer survivors having ostomy for at least 6 months. Data on socio-demographic and clinical variables were collected. Psychosocial adjustment was measured using Ostomy Adjustment Inventory-23 (OAI-23).Results: A total of 122 patients were included in the study. Mean time since ostomy surgery was 2.53 and 1.98 years for men and women respectively. Both men and women had significant impairment in the psychosocial adjustment, however, men had significantly lower psychosocial adjustment score (37.68±12.96 vs.43.45±12.81, t=−2.47, P=0.015) at 95% CI as compared to women and they reported more negative emotions. Furthermore, men significantly predicted low acceptance {β=−3.078, P=0.023, ΔR 2 =0.036, F [4,117] =7.90, P<0.001} and social engagement score {β=−2.501, P<0.001, ΔR 2 =0.098, F [4,117] =6.03, P<0.001}.
Conclusions:Colorectal cancer survivors with ostomy should be monitored for psychosocial concerns in regular basis and health care providers should tailor care based on their need. Approaches of survivorship care and psychosocial interventions in colorectal cancer survivors with ostomy should take into account gender specific concerns and requirements to aid adjustment. J Gastrointest Oncol 2016;7(6):938-945 jgo.amegroups.com (QoL) scores in patients with ostomy (6,7). Furthermore, qualitative analysis has explored that low score in QoL is mainly attributable to the psychosocial issues (8)(9)(10)(11)). Yet, clinical outcome measures are mostly confined to laboratory results, complication rates and death, which often overlook those aspects of functioning and fall short to provide complete picture of how patient's life has been affected by the disease and its sequelae. Hence, detail analysis of psychosocial adjustment to measure actual outcome in these population is very essential, where psychosocial adjustment is the integration of illness or disability into the individual's life, identity, self concept, and body image (12).Deep rooted differences in men and women in societies can shape people's lives and their adjustment. It is essential to recognize and reflect upon gender roles given the need to provide therapeutic guidance and develop programs and public policies for each health specialty (13). Gender norms, roles and relations can influence health outcomes and affect the attainment of mental, physical and ...