Living with intestinal stoma: the construction of autonomy for care1

Objective: to investigate the care undertaken in the health services for people with intestinal stoma, from the perspective of articulating the actions proposed in the Amplified and Shared Clinic, with a view to promoting autonomy. Method: qualitative study. Participants: 10 people who received a stoma, and their family members. Data was collected between 10th January and 30th June 2011, through two semi-structured interviews. Analysis was through the stages: anxiety, synthesis, theorization and recontextualization. Results: presented in the categories: (1) the need to carry out stoma care; (2) receiving health support and care after discharge from hospital; (3) returning to daily activities and social reinsertion. Conclusion: the study identified common factors which influence the process of development of autonomy and the relationship which health professionals have with this achievement