| Summary: | Introduction: Stoma-related complications are common and consequences for the individual patient may be considerable. In rural areas, competence regarding stoma-related problems is largely absent. Since the aim of a publicly funded healthcare system is good healthcare on equal terms regardless of where one lives, studies evaluating differences and possible areas of improvement in rural areas are important. An evaluation of stoma-related characteristics, geographic differences and improvement opportunities from a rural perspective has not been done previously. The characteristics and differences studied in this thesis are: stoma reversal; occurrence of permanent stoma; and quality-of-life (QoL). Methods: Epidemiological methods applied to register data were used in Study I. Data extracted from the National Rectal Cancer Register together with socioeconomic data from Statistics Sweden were used. Study II was a cross-sectional study using surveys matched with data from the National Rectal Cancer Register. Study III was based on data from a double-blind randomised controlled trial. Patients were randomised to either a prophylactic mesh or no mesh in order to prevent parastomal hernia (PSH). Quality-of-life was assessed by grouping and comparing results of questionnaires answered by the patients included. In Study IV, a qualitative explorative method was applied to describe the quality of life of rural living stoma patients. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse data. Aims and Results: Study I investigated whether distance by road to hospital had an impact on the following outcomes: stoma reversal rate; time from index operation to stoma reversal; and occurrence of permanent stoma after rectal cancer surgery. Longer distance to hospital had no effect on these outcomes in a multivariate model. In the univariate logistic regression model results indicated the opposite; patients living closest to the operating hospital had a higher likelihood of no reversal (OR 0.3; 95% CI 0.12–0.76). In northern Sweden, 77 % ...
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