“I Had to Learn to Accept It”: A Narrative Inquiry into a Young Woman’s Experience of Living with an Ostomy Following the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes

Background: This single-case study explores the experience of a young woman who underwent ostomy surgery following the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, providing an in-depth understanding of the physical and psychosocial adaptation process.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the lived experience of a young woman who underwent an intestinal ostomy following the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes through a single-case narrative inquiry.

Methods: This study employed a single-case narrative inquiry design. An in-depth interview was conducted on March 1, 2024 with a young woman who underwent ostomy surgery as a result of injuries sustained during the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. Data from the in-depth interview were analyzed using Malterud's systematic text condensation method with the support of MAXQDA (Version 24, VERBI GmbH, Berlin, Germany). The study was reported in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist.

Results: Analysis of the participant's narrative yielded four themes: (1) ostomy-related experiences; (2) challenges following ostomy; (3) factors facilitating coping with post-ostomy difficulties; and (4) recommendations for improving ostomy management.

Conclusion: This single-case study suggests that the physical and emotional losses associated with a major earth-quake may complicate adaptation to living with an ostomy. Understanding the challenges encountered by individuals in similar circumstances and the coping strategies they develop may help nurses and other healthcare professionals provide more effective support in post-disaster settings.

Keywords: Earthquakes, nursing care, ostomy, qualitative research, young adult