To explore the effect of simulation training method on the care ability of early caregivers.

The caregivers of rectal cancer patients after colostomy were selected from Department of Colorectal Surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University between April, 2019 and September, 2019, and divided into control group and experimental group according to operation time. Forty-seven cases in the control group received routine education on colostomy bag replacement. Forty-nine cases in the experimental group were given simulated stoma model training besides routine education. SSCS-early stage version was used to evaluate the care ability of caregivers on the day before discharge. The care ability of caregivers, outpatient nursing rate and stoma complication incidence were also evaluated by phone and outpatient clinic in the forth week.

The care ability of cases in the experimental group was stronger than that of cases in the control group (39.12±2.49 vs.37.02±2.82, t=-3.877; P＜0.001). The time of changing ostomy bag of cases in the experimental group was significantly shorter than that of cases in the control group (20.73±4.04 vs. 24.00±5.21, t=3.442; P=0.001). The outpatient nursing rate and incidence of stoma complications in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (χ²=6.773, 4.426; P=0.009, 0.035).

The simulation training method can effectively improve the ostomy care ability of the caregivers, reduce the stoma outpatient clinic dependence and stoma complications incidence.