Background: Patients with an intestinal stoma experience psychological difficulties, including disturbances in self-efficacy and self-esteem. There is evidence that they are interdependent.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the correlation between self-efficacy and self-esteem in patients with an intestinal stoma.
Methods: A descriptive-correlational study was conducted with 155 patients with an intestinal stoma. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using demographic questions, the stoma self-efficacy scale and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and analysed using descriptive and analytical statistics.
Findings: Seventy-nine men and 76 women took part; the 50-70 years age group had the highest proportion of participants. Regarding diagnosis, 52.26% had cancer and 45.81% had inflammatory bowel disease or related conditions. Pearson's correlation coefficient indicated a positive, significant correlation between total self-efficacy and its dimensions with self-esteem (P<0.001; r=0.54).
Conclusion: Self-efficacy is positively correlated with self-esteem in patients with an intestinal stoma. It is recommended that educational interventions are planned and implemented to boost self-esteem and self-efficacy in these patients.
Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Colostomy; Ileostomy; Intestinal stoma; Ostomy; Self-efficacy; Self-esteem.