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Background: Parastomal hernia (PSH) is a common complication of a colostomy. Approximately one third of patients have a PSH 3 to 5 years after surgery. There is much qualitative research into living with a stoma, less so when it comes to living with a PSH.

Method: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. The participants were participants in a large randomised trial studying the effects of a prophylactic mesh when creating a colostomy. All participants were survivors of rectal cancer. Inductive content analysis was used for data processing. 17 heterogeneous informants (age, gender, geographical location) were interviewed based on a saturated selection.

Results: A major theme was identified in the interviews; “patients coping with parastomal hernia.” In line with this we identified four core coping strategies; meaningfulness; knowledge-based coping; social-based coping; and problem-based coping. For each category further subcategories were identified. We found that a deep sense of gratitude, for survival rectal cancer impacted the informant’s perception on their general wellbeing. Furthermore, we found the paramount importance of stoma nurses, or similar health care workers, enabling the patient to overcome different problems with a PSH.

Discussion: There is a need to better understand the patient’s perception of living with PSH and how to cope with this. The purpose is to ease the transition into living with a stoma, and perhaps a PSH. The coping strategies identified in this report may be incorporated into teaching and information material and also be used by nurses and doctors meeting patients.