The purpose of this study was to investigate the communication challenges and successes that people with ostomies experienced during their healthcare encounters.

We conducted semistructured interviews of people with ostomies. Interviews focused on important social situations and health communication strategies for managing these situations. We transcribed interviews and coded them to create themes.

Participants were eligible to participate if they were above the age of 18 and have had an ostomy for at least a year. 27 people participated in the study.

The study was conducted in a university setting.

Interviews with ostomates surfaced several themes related to ostomate needs. Participants benefited from communication that was open, thorough and had a positive outlook on ostomies. Participants found patient–clinician communication to be challenging when there was a lack of knowledge surrounding ostomy care, communication was unclear or inadequate, and when clinicians had a negative outlook on ostomies.

Findings from this project are intended to amplify existing patient and clinician education materials and to inform the creation of a communication guide specifically for the ostomy context.