The effect of mobile education on adjustment to stoma, self-efficacy, and peristomal skin lesions: a quasi-experimental study

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the effect of the stoma mobile application-based training method on the psychosocial adjustment, self-efficacy, and development of peristomal skin complications in ostomates. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study with a post-test control group. Data were collected between December 2020 and December 2021. The ostomates who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to two groups: 30 for the experimental group and 30 for the control group. The experimental group was trained with the stoma mobile application, while the control group was trained with the booklet. Stoma adjustment, self-efficacy level, and the presence of complications were compared in both groups in the 1st and 3rd months after discharge. RESULTS: The psychosocial adjustment (1st month: t = 2.273; p = .027; 3rd month: t = 2.898; p = .005) and self-efficacy levels (1st month: t = 4.073; p < .001, and 3rd month: t = 4.178; p < .001) of the experimental group using the stoma mobile application were higher, and the peristomal skin lesion complication rate was lower compared to the control group. Social self-efficacy positively affects stoma compliance [(experimental: 1st month: β = 0.72, p = .003; R2 = 0.41; 3rd month: β = 0.71, p < .001; R2 = 0.55); (control: 1st month: β = 0.80, p < .001; R2 = 0.49)]. In addition, the stoma mobile application enhances the social self-efficacy level and adaptation of ostomates to the stoma [(1st month: β = 0.29, p = 0.007; 3rd month: β = 0.24, p = .028)]. CONCLUSION: The stoma mobile application is an effective educational tool for increasing the compliance and self-efficacy of ostomates and reducing the incidence of complications. REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05664503. Registration date: December 22, 2022.