Differences in low back pain managementfor people with a stoma: a survey

Iseult Wilson, Daniel Paul Kerr, Sheila Lennon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Back pain is a problem in society as a whole. Previous work has shown that people with a stoma also develop back pain, but it was not known how this back pain was managed. Aim: To investigate how adults in Northern Ireland with either an ileostomy or colostomy managed their back pain at home. Methods: A postal questionnaire survey was sent to people with either an ileostomy or colostomy in Northern Ireland (n = 1322). The questionnaire included questions regarding the back pain experience (frequency and severity of pain), related disability and the strategies used in managing back pain, which is the focus of this paper. The questionsregarding the management of low back pain were in one of three 5-point Likert scale formats depending on the question. Results: Of the 1322 people approached, 895 (67.7%) questionnaires were returned. Onehundred and sixty (17.9%) were either blank or incomplete and were, therefore, not included in the analysis. Analysis was carried out on 735 completed questionnaires. There were no statistically significant differences between men and women in whether they managed their back pain by themselves, or sought help from various healthcare professionals. Women more than men, and those with a colostomy rather than an ileostomy, were more likely to have issues regarding back pain. Neither stoma group believed that changing their posture or activities would help the back pain. This has implications for back care education. Conclusion: Many people with a stoma have back pain, and this is managed in a variety of ways. There is no clear evidence regarding the best or most effective method of managing back pain in this group of people, and further research is ongoing into this important and novel area of research.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)22-27
JournalGastrointestinal nursing
Volume6
Issue number10
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - Jan 2009

Bibliographical note

Reference text: Christodoulou DK, Katsanos KH, Kitsanou M, Stergiopoulou C, Hatzis J, Tsianos EV (2002) Frequency of extraintestinal manifestations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Northwest Greece and review of the literature. Dig Liver Dis 34(11):781–6

Frymoyer JW, Cats-Baril WL (1991) An overview of the incidences and costs of low back pain. Orthop Clin North Am 22(2): 263–71

Hides JA, Jull GA, Richardson CA (2001) Long-term effects of specific stabilizing exercises for first-episode low back pain. Spine 26(11): E243–8

Hodges PW (1999) Is there a role for transversus abdominis in lumbo-pelvic stability? Man Ther 4(2):74–86

Jain S, McGory ML, Ko CY et al (2007) Comorbidities play a larger role in predicting health-related quality of life compared to having an ostomy. Am J Surg 194(6): 774–9

Keogh E (2006) Sex and gender differences in pain: a selective review of biological and psychosocial factors. J Mens Health Gend 3(3): 236–43

Keogh E, Denford S (2008) Sex differences in perceptions of pain coping strategy usage. Eur J Pain [In press]

Maniadakis N, Gray A (2000) The economic burden of back pain in the UK. Pain 84: 95–103

Norris CM (2008) Back Stability. 2nd edn. Human Kinetics, Champaign, Illinois

Pallant J (2005) SPSS Survival Manual. 2nd edn. Open University Press, Oxford

Smith MD, Russell A, Hodges PW (2008a) How common is back pain in women with gastrointestinal problems? Clin J Pain 24(3): 199–203

Smith A, O’Sullivan P, Straker L (2008b) Classification of saggital thoraco-lumbo-pelvic alignment of the adolescent spine in standing and its relationship to low back pain. Spine 33(19): 2101–7

Thompson T, Keogh E, French CC, Davis R (2008) Anxiety sensitivity and pain: generalisability across noxious stimuli. Pain 134(1–2): 187–96

Whorwell PJ, McCallum M, Creed FH, Roberts CT (1986) Non-colonic features of irritable bowel syndrome. Gut 27(1): 37–40

Wilson IM, Kerr DP, Lennon S (2007) Low back pain in people with a stoma: patients’ views. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs 34(5): 515–20

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Differences in low back pain managementfor people with a stoma: a survey'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this