A latent profile analysis of resourcefulness among patients with colorectal cancer and intestinal ostomy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with colorectal cancer and an intestinal ostomy face significant psychological challenges after surgery. Resourcefulness is crucial for psychological adaptation, but its heterogeneity and associations with stress, acceptance, and stigma remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify distinct resourcefulness profiles among these patients and examine their associations with sociodemographic factors, perceived stress, stoma acceptance, and stigma. METHODS: A convenience sampling method was adopted to recruit 479 patients with colorectal cancer and intestinal ostomy from the gastrointestinal surgery departments of Class A tertiary-level hospitals in Chengdu and Chongqing, China, between February and December 2025. Data were collected using the Resourcefulness Scale (RS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Stoma Acceptance Questionnaire (SAQ), and the Social Impact Scale (SIS). Latent profile analysis was performed to identify subgroups, and multinomial logistic regression and ANOVA were used to examine associated factors and psychosocial differences. RESULTS: A 4-class model was optimal: Low Resourcefulness (C1, 28.60%), Medium Resourcefulness-Intimate-Reliant (C2, 17.33%), High Resourcefulness-Selectively Help-Seeking (C3, 36.12%), and High Resourcefulness (C4, 17.95%). Married status, higher education, higher income (≥5,000 CNY), and participation in ostomy support meetings were key distinguishing factors between the high-resourcefulness profile (C4) and the low-resourcefulness profile (C1), with the proportions of patients possessing these characteristics increasing progressively from C1 to C4. A clear gradient emerged: from C1 to C4, perceived stress and stigma decreased, while stoma acceptance increased (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Resourcefulness in this population is heterogeneous. Marital status, education, income, and professional support engagement are key factors influencing profile membership. IMPLICATIONS FOR ONCOLOGY NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses should assess patients' resourcefulness to tailor support. Actively encouraging participation in structured ostomy support meetings is crucial. Interventions should be profile-specific: providing comprehensive resource reinforcement for C1, enhancing support networks for C2, and offering autonomy-respecting guidance for C3. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; http://www.chictr.org.cn/;ChiCTR2500095532.