Mobile Ostomates Resources for Patients and Caregivers

This questionnaire assesses respondents' knowledge of standard ostomy care procedures (reaction to stoma, removing the stoma appliance, measuring the stoma diameter, adjusting the size of the stoma diameter in a new stoma appliance, skin care, fitting a new stoma appliance, and emptying procedure). Minimum score = 0, Maximum score = 21. A higher score indicates higher skill in ostomy care with less dependence on an ostomy nurse.

This questionnaire assesses five cognitive illnesses. Responses to the items can be grouped into categories such as stress, lifestyle, etc. to measure respondents' perception of illness. Subscale scores range from 1-10. Minimum score= 0, Maximum score= 80; higher scores indicate worse illness perception.

Eight items in addition to a causal scale graded on a five-point Likert scale.

This scale assesses a general sense of perceived self-efficacy, predicting respondents' ability to cope with daily hassles and adaptation after stressful life events. Minimum score = 10, Maximum score = 40; higher scores indicate higher self-efficacy.

Questions adopted from the Quality-of-Life Scale, respondents will elaborate on their difficulties in stoma care, surgery and treatment-related goals, then indicate whether they have achieved their goals and how satisfied they are with their achievement. For each item, 0 = worst outcome/negative QOL and 10 = best outcome/positive QOL. A total QOL score is obtained by adding the scores on all 10-point items and dividing by the total number of items (43). Minimum score = 0, Maximum score = 10. Higher scores indicate a general better quality of life among ostomates.

Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI-18) will measure respondents' distress symptoms. The assessment contains three six-item scales for measuring somatization, depression, anxiety, and the Global Severity Index (GSI). Respondents rate items on a scale from "Not at all," indicating low psychological distress, to "Extremely," indicating high psychological distress in that area. Thus, higher responses of "Extremely" across the scales signify greater distress in that area being measured. Subscale scores range from 1-5. Minimum score = 0, Maximum score = 90; higher scores indicate more distress.

This 43-item scale assesses the psychological, social, and spiritual wellbeing of respondents, graded on a 0-10 scale in which 0 reflects very poor quality in that area and 10 is the best. Total quality of life (QOL) is calculated by adding the scores on all of the 10-point items. Minimum score = 0, maximum = 430. Higher scores indicate a better quality of life.

This measure assesses respondents' needs including psychological, physical, informational, daily living, patient care, and sexuality needs. Respondents may choose one of five possible responses to all 33 questions ranging from "No need" to High need". Minimum score = 1, Maximum score = 165. Higher need answers indicate greater unmet needs.

This measure assesses satisfaction with care and communication between cancer in patients with hospital-based care and their care team, caretakers, and significant others. Respondent's report how much each of 11 statements apply to them within the past month using the five responses ranging from "Not much" to "Very much". Minimum score = 1, Maximum score = 55. Higher responses of "very much" indicate low satisfaction.

Symptoms of pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression will be reported as a composite score, measured using five questions with scales ranging from 0 (none) to 10 (the worst imaginable) as well as the impact that these symptoms have on respondents' quality of life measured using three questions with scales ranging from 1(none) to 5 (very great impact. Full composite score from 5 to 40 A higher score indicates more adverse physical and psychological symptoms experienced and poorer quality of life as a result of the symptoms.