Enhancing Quality of Life in Ostomized Patients Through Smart-Glasses-Supported Health Education: A Pre-Post Study

TL;DR

A study found that using smart glasses during health education sessions improved the quality of life for patients with ostomies, particularly in emotional and mental health aspects.

Contribution

This study introduces the use of smart-glasses technology in nursing-led health education for ostomized patients, showing its potential to improve quality of life.

Findings

Smart-glasses-supported education significantly improved emotional role and mental health scores in ostomized patients.

Quality of life scores showed strong correlation before and after the intervention.

The study highlights the potential of technology in enhancing patient self-care and autonomy.

Abstract

Background: Ostomy care consultations are essential for promoting patient autonomy and quality-of-life. The integration of innovative technologies may enhance health education and support effective self-care among ostomized patients. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a nursing-led health education intervention supported by smart-glasses on the quality of life of ostomized patients. Methods: A pre–post quasi-experimental design was employed with 14 patients who had undergone digestive surgery resulting in an ostomy. The intervention consisted of a single 60-min session comprising three phases: (1) assessment of baseline knowledge on ostomy management, (2) personalized feedback, and (3) a hands-on workshop using Vuzix© smart-glasses to demonstrate ostomy care techniques. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire before and after the intervention. Results: The intervention significantly improved overall SF-36 scores, with notable advancements in emotional role (78.57 ± 36.06 to 97.44 ± 9.25, d = 10.54), mental health (79.14 ± 20.10 to 87.38 ± 13.94, d = 6.27), and vitality (69.29 ± 20.56 to 71.15 ± 16.98, d = 4.19). Social function remained high throughout the study, while bodily pain showed a slight decline. A strong correlation (ρ = 0.923, p = 0.001) was observed between pre- and post-intervention quality of life scores. Conclusions: The findings suggest that integrating smart-glasses into nursing-led health education may enhance the quality of life and self-care capabilities of ostomized patients. However, the small sample size, lack of a control group, and exploratory nature of the study limit the generalizability of the results. Further research is needed to validate these findings in larger, controlled trials.

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