オストメイトのトイレ利用実態と今後の整備課題に関する研究

<p>1. Background</p><p> For 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics and the continuous super-aging society after that, improving a barrier-free infrastructure is an urgent issue. Since the enforcement of the Barrier-Free Act in 2006, equipment for ostomates, mainly multifunctional toilets, has been improved.</p><p> An ostomate is a person who has undergone a surgical procedure to create a stoma in the abdomen to discharge wastes because of damage to the digestive tract or ureter caused by an illness or accident. The basic problems about the use of facilities and equipment have not been clarified for the future improvement of the types of toilet that ostomates use, activities they do in the toilet, equipment that bothers them, and places where toilets for ostomates are needed.</p><p>2. Objective</p><p> Regarding the use of toilets by ostomates, we studied their needs according to facilities, attitude towards using toilets, actual activities in the toilet, and problems about the use of equipment and examined the direction of development and improvement in the future.</p><p>3. Methods</p><p> We conducted a survey through the Japan Ostomy Association by sending questionnaires to 2000 members of 47 prefectural branches of the association and conducted a hearing with some respondents to the questionnaire.</p><p>4. Results and discussion</p><p> We examined the results of the questionnaire (number of collection: 1015) and the hearing that was conducted to complement the questionnaire (number of interviewees: 23) from four perspectives: ostomates’ needs according to facilities, attitude towards using toilets, actual activities in the toilet, and problems about using the equipment. As a result, we found that the following perspectives were important as the direction for solving problems to improve the toilet environment for ostomates.</p><p>a) There are various generations of ostomates, and among them are many people in the working generation. So, toilet facilities need to be developed and improved not only in the daily life environment but also in their schools or working environments. The survey results particularly indicated that places often used by people in their 30s to 50s, such as convenience stores or offices, should implement some measures.</p><p>b) According to the survey, something should be done to encourage ordinary users to understand the fact that it takes time for ostomates to use the toilet. We found that ostomates felt anxious and concerned about ordinary users. To solve this problem, it is necessary to examine the placement of toilets equipped with ostomate facilities in addition to understanding ordinary users.</p><p>c) The survey revealed ostomates’ actual situation of using toilets equipped with ostomate facilities and that of using ordinary toilets. Although what they need is similar to toilets equipped with ostomate facilities, the potential for improvement is limited because of the small space. However, a shelf for equipment and a hook for clothing are thought to be convenient for ordinary users.</p><p>d) Problems associated with the functions of existing ostomate facilities have not been solved for improvement, such as preventing splashes from the ostomate sink, giving the function of handling a shower or toilet tissue holder with a single hand. There are various generations of users, and the position of the stoma differs depending on the illness. Thus, we found that it was essential to study the standard performance of equipment for ostomates, including the development of equipment, such as a shelf, hook for clothing, and handwashing basin that could be appropriately installed on the toilet.</p>