Metaphorical perceptions of stoma patients about living with a stoma: A qualitative study

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate how stoma patients perceive their experiences living with a stoma. Methods: The research is a descriptive study conducted with 42 patients who lived with a stoma for at least 3 months. Data were collected by a face-to-face interview method with a semi-structured form. The metaphors obtained from the analysis are presented under 3 main headings. Results: The participant's gender was 59.5% male, 78.6% were between the ages of 18 and 64, and 78.6% were married. We discussed patients' statements about living with a stoma under the themes of ‘positive’, ‘negative’, and ‘both positive and negative’. A statistically significant relationship was found between age groups, stoma type (colostomy/ileostomy), and stoma type (permanent/temporary) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings reveal that negative metaphors occur most frequently in patients between the ages of 18 and 64 who have undergone temporary stoma surgery. Knowing patients' perceptions of their stoma can be a guide in planning support services for individuals to cope with their negative emotions.