Educational Guidelines on Stress and Coping Strategies among Mothers Having Children with Colostomy

Abstract

Background: Through surgery, a colostomy is a method of redirecting the flow of stool from the colon to a stoma by making an incision in the abdominal wall. The mothers who care for children with colostomies may experience physical, social, and psychological health problems as a result of providing high-quality care. Numerous stressors that moms face have an impact on their daily lives. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of educational guidelines on stress and coping strategies among mothers having children with colostomy. Method: Design: This study employed a quasi-experimental research design. Sample: comprising fifty mothers who care for children with colostomy. Setting: The investigation was conducted at Sohag University Hospital (MUCH) in the pediatric surgery unit. The tools of data collection were; a structured questionnaire sheet, Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, and Coping Health Inventory for parents. Results: The study found that before educational recommendations, mothers' overall mean stress level was high; however, following educational guidelines, this score decreased. In addition, the overall mean score of mothers' coping strategies was low before educational guidelines but increased following them. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between the stress levels of mothers before and after the educational guidance, as well as between the coping strategies they used to lessen their stress. Additionally, it was shown that higher levels of coping strategies were associated with higher levels of parenting stress via positive correlations between parenting stress and coping strategies. Conclusion: Educational guidelines are useful in reducing mothers' stress levels and increasing the coping strategies employed by moms of children with colostomy. Recommendations: Mothers should be taught and advised on a variety of coping strategies and parenting techniques to reduce their stress levels. Additionally, nurses should be heavily involved in health education and counseling mothers regarding all facets of caring for their children who have colostomies as well as strategies for managing the stress that comes with this care.