AUTHOR=Munro Julie , Hubbard Gill , Goodman Will , Beeken Rebecca , Oliphant Raymond 

TITLE=Lived Experience of Parastomal Bulging: A Mixed Methods Study

JOURNAL=Journal of Abdominal Wall Surgery

VOLUME=Volume 3 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/journal-of-abdominal-wall-surgery/articles/10.3389/jaws.2024.12478

DOI=10.3389/jaws.2024.12478

ISSN=2813-2092

ABSTRACT=Aim: This UK study aimed to explore people's experiences of living with, and self-managing parastomal bulging. Methods: Seventeen people were interviewed and 61 people completed an online survey. Results: Parastomal bulging has a detrimental impact on quality of life including a negative impact on stoma function, daily activities, body image, physical intimacy, and socialising; access to specialist information and support for addressing the problem of bulging was inequitable; support garments were the most common self-management intervention; there was confusion about what exercise would be beneficial or how being active would help in terms of parastomal bulging self-management; peer support is no substitute for high quality specialist support. Conclusion: People need equitable access to information and support to self-manage and treat parastomal bulging. Research about other types of self-management interventions for example, exercise is required so that people do not have to rely solely on support garments to self-manage parastomal bulging.