Caring for stoma patients in Saudi Arabia

The formation of a stoma can be a traumatic experience for the individual and their family, irrespective of age, gender, condition or indication for stoma surgery. Nevertheless, the importance of factors that may contribute to an individual's adaptation, such as level of education, socioeconomic background, external support network, and cultural and spiritual beliefs, are often overlooked. It is important for health professionals to recognise and understand the ostomate's religious and cultural beliefs and how they may affect adaptation to life with a stoma. Although literature is available that discusses the Muslim religion with regard to stoma surgery, there is little that relates specifically to the Muslim faith within the Saudi cultural context. Much of what the authors have experienced in their daily practice conflicts with the available international literature. This article aims to share these experiences of caring for Muslim ostomates in Saudi Arabia and provide guidance for other health professio...