A patient with a colostomy who is hesitant about self-care; which action best supports their needs?

• A. Offer to meet with a counselor to discuss concerns.
• B. Give a stack of written instructions.
• C. Leave the room and return later.
• D. Offer to have family take over care.

Answer: (A)

When a patient with a colostomy is hesitant about self-care, addressing emotional and coping needs is essential. Offering to meet with a counselor provides a safe space to discuss worries about body image, fears of leakage or social judgment, and the lifestyle changes that come with ostomy care. A counselor can help the patient process these feelings, build coping strategies, and connect them with practical resources and support groups, which boosts confidence and readiness to manage care independently. This approach supports autonomy and patient-centered care, helping the patient move from hesitation to active engagement in self-care.

Providing written instructions alone may help with the how-to steps, but it doesn’t address the emotional barriers that often underlie reluctance. Leaving the room and returning later misses an opportunity to build trust and gauge how prepared the patient feels in the moment. Letting family take over care shifts responsibility away from the patient and can undermine their independence and long-term self-management.