Muganga Jessica Damali2025-09-262025-09-262025-09-17https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11951/1847Masters DissertationBackground/Purpose: Receiving a stoma is a life changing event. Preparation of a patient with a stoma for discharge (D/C) is critical in adjusting to the new life. There are gaps in nurses’ knowledge, and practices regarding discharge planning of patients with a stoma. Structured education on discharge planning for patients with stomas, helps greatly in improving nurses’ confidence and comfort. However, in some settings, such as Uganda, structured education tailored for preparation of patients for stoma is lacking. The study examined effect of structured education on discharge of patients with a stoma on nurse’s knowledge, and practices at Mulago National referral Hospital (MNRH) in Uganda. Theoretical Framework: Kurt Lewin’s 3-step change theory was used. The theory has 3 stages of unfreezing, change, and refreezing and 3 major concepts: driving forces, restraining forces, and equilibrium. These elements were key in guiding nurses to change behavior following structured education intervention. Methodology: It was a pre-test posttest design. A single sample of nurses (n=23) purposively selected from nurses working on patients with a stoma participated in the study. Self- administered questionnaire was used at before and after structured education intervention. Analysis for knowledge was done using descriptive, inferential statistics. Practices were analyzed using descriptive, inferential statistics. Results: It was found that structured education on D/C for patients with a stoma had an improvement on nurses’ knowledge (P -value: <0.001 with significance at 0.05 % CI, using paired t test), and practices (p -value: <0.001, with significance at 0.05 %, using Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test). Because knowledge and practices of nurses improved, it can be concluded that structured education had a positive effect. Conclusion: This study provides a timely response to needs of nurses preparing patients with stoma for discharge. Comparing before and after structured education, findings show that nurses were better equipped with knowledge by the educational intervention on preparation of patients for discharge. Their practices regarding D/C planning were also improved following structured education. Recommendation: From findings of the study, structured education regarding D/C of patients with a stoma had an effect on nurses’ knowledge and practices. A structured approach to educating nurses about physiological, social and psychological needs of a patient with stoma like skin care, isolation, and anxiety needs to be incorporated in their care. The need for continuing education and demonstrations to guide nurses in performing D/C planning for patients with a stoma is critical for better patients’ outcomes.enDischarge planningstructured education on discharge planstomanursesknowledgeand practices.Thesis