EPD207 - Variation in Quality of Life Among Patients After Ostomy Construction

Monday, May 11, 2026

8:43 AM - 8:48 AM ET

ePoster of Distinction Presenter(s)

Rachelle Alexander-Pollard, MD

Resident Physician
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL, United States

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Author(s)

NC

Neil Chaudhary, n/a

Medical Student
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Hannah Ficarino Sheffer, MD, MSPH (she/her/hers)

Resident
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
AH

Alfonsus Adrian H. Harsono, MD, MSPH

Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
LM

Landon Martin, n/a

Clinical Research Coordinator
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
EW

Edward Winter, MS

Statistician
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Daniel I. Chu, MD, MSPH (he/him/his)

Professor and Division Director
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL, United States

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Senior Author(s)

Robert Hollis, MD, MSPH

Assistant Professor
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.

Rachelle Alexander, MD: This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Daniel I. Chu, MD, MSPH: This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Purpose/Background: Undergoing surgery with formation of a fecal ostomy results in a major shift in activities of daily living and can have a significant impact on patient quality of life (QOL). Previously, studies have focused on factors influencing long-term QOL, however the drivers of short-term QOL after ostomy construction may vary. We evaluated whether unique patient, procedure, and perioperative factors were associated with QOL in patients who underwent surgery with ostomy construction within the past year.

Methods/Interventions: Patients who received a new fecal ostomy at a tertiary medical center between July 2023 and July 2025 were prospectively recruited by phone to complete a mailed or electronic survey. Participants were given a $25 incentive for participation. Patients with age < 18, prior ostomy, or who were beyond one year from ostomy construction were excluded. The primary outcome for the study was QOL determined using the City of Hope Quality of Life (COH-QOL) Ostomy Questionnaire overall score. Independent variables of interest included patient demographics, socioeconomic determinants of health, procedure, and perioperative care variables. Bivariate comparisons were assessed using Welch two-sample t-test and one-way analysis of mean given the normal distribution of QOL. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05.

Results/Outcomes: The study included 106 patients who completed the survey and had a new ostomy created by one of 22 different surgeons. The median age of patients at consent for the study was 61 years [IQR 48-69], 48.1% were female, 82.1% were White, 16.0% were African American, and 1.9% declined to provide race. Patients below the median age of 61 had lower QOL compared to older patients (QOL: 4.8 vs. 5.2; p=0.04). Patients with preoperative stoma marking had higher QOL compared to those who did not (QOL: 5.2 vs 4.8 p=0.03). Patients with an ileostomy had lower QOL compared to patients with a colostomy (QOL: 4.8 vs 5.2; p=0.03), and patients who required anti-diarrheal use had lower QOL compared to those who did not (QOL 4.4 vs 5.3; p< 0.01). There was no difference in QOL by patient sex, race, health literacy, level of education, employment status, food scarcity, health-care transportation availability, or home health utilization (p >0.05).

Conclusion/Discussion: Among patients who were within one year from fecal ostomy construction, QOL was significantly lower in younger patients, those with an ileostomy, and those who required antidiarrheals. Preoperative stoma marking was associated with higher QOL. Multiple social determinants of health were not associated with QOL.