Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Complications following intestinal ostomy surgery can diminish quality of life for
individuals living with an ostomy, resulting in physical and psychosocial limitations. Risk factors
contributing to ostomy complications are not well established in the literature. The purposes of
this study were to: 1) identify risk factors contributing to the development of fecal ostomy
complications; 2) describe the incidence and severity of early fecal ostomy complications; and 3)
estimate the reliability and validity of two newly developed instruments, Ostomy Risk Factor
Index (ORFI) and Ostomy Complication Severity Index (OCSI). Using a prospective longitudinal
design, 71 adult patients who had undergone ostomy surgery were recruited from three acute care
settings. Data were collected through self-administered surveys, medical record review, and direct
observation prior to discharge and at 30 to 60 days post-operatively. Data were analyzed using
descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, chi-square tests, correlation, and multiple regression.
Psychometric properties of the Ostomy Risk Factor Index and the Ostomy Complication Severity
Index were examined using content validity indices, Cohen coefficient kappa, Pearson correlation
coefficient, and intra-class correlation. Two risk factors were found to be predictive of ostomy
complications scores, stoma/abdomen characteristics (p= .007) and BMI (p= .002). Ostomy
complications and ostomy adjustment were significantly inversely correlated (r= - 0.27, p=.04)
and stoma care self-efficacy and ostomy adjustment were significantly correlated (r= .599, p=
.01). The ORFI and OCSI demonstrated acceptable content validity (CVI= 0.9). ORFI
demonstrated acceptable inter-rater reliability for 10 of the 14 items (k= 1.0) and excellent intraclass
correlation of total scores between raters (r= .998, p= .001). The OCSI demonstrated
acceptable inter-rater reliability for all of the items (k= .71- 1.0) and excellent intra-class
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correlation of total scores between raters (r= .991, p= .000). The OCSI demonstrated acceptable
internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha .68). In conclusion, this study provides new knowledge
regarding risk factors, incidence and severity of ostomy complications, and provided support for
the validity and reliability of two new instruments for the researcher and practitioner to reliably
identify and describe important contributors (risk factors) and outcomes (complications) that
affect care of the patient with an ostomy
