Key informants (four male and three female) aged 39–68
years (M = 54), living with a permanent colostomy for 2–11
months (M = 5). All of them were married Han people, diagnosed
with rectal cancer, and receiving postoperative chemotherapy.
The majority (57%) were male, 57% were peasants,
and 57% underwent a Miles surgical operation. Regarding
educational background, 29% were illiterate, 43% graduated
from primary school, 14% had a middle school education,
and 14% possessed a high school diploma (Table 1).