Importance of stoma care nurses in preparing patients for stoma surgery and adjustment to life with a stoma.

Background: Stoma surgery is a life-changing event and patients must subsequently make significant adjustments to their lives.

Aim: The study set out to understand the level of interaction between patients and stoma care nurses (SCNs) in relation to preparing patients for stoma surgery and in adjustment to life with a stoma.

Methods: Retrospective, self-reported questionnaires for patients and SCNs.

The Ostomy Skin Tool 2.0: a new instrument for assessing peristomal skin changes.

Background: Peristomal skin complications (PSCs) are frequently reported postoperative complications. PSCs can present visibly or as symptoms such as pain, itching or burning sensations.

Aim: To develop a new tool that can capture a range of sensation symptoms together with visible complications and an objective assessment of discolouration in the peristomal area.

Challenges faced by people with a stoma: peristomal body profile risk factors and leakage.

Aim: The Ostomy Life Study 2019 aimed to obtain a better understanding of the challenges faced by people with stoma.

Methods: Online survey with participants from 17 countries.

Findings: Of the 54 614 individuals invited to take part, 5187 responded; 62% of the respondents avoided physical and social activities because of their stoma and 37% had never consulted their stoma care nurse to have the fit of their stoma product checked.

Creating consensus-based practice guidelines with 2000 nurses.

Medical professionals follow evidence-based practice guidelines to achieve effective patient outcomes. Traditionally, to develop guidelines, a small group of experts examine evidence then agree on a set of statements, which are then published in journals. However, more than 7000 primary care journal articles are published monthly.

Strengthening implementation success using large-scale consensus decision-making - A new approach to creating medical practice guidelines.

A study involving over 2000 stoma care nurses in the development of best practice guidelines for the assessment of peristomal body profiles, patient engagement and patient follow-up was conducted in 2018. The study was designed to develop guidelines for stoma care treatment and product selection and to decrease the evidence to implementation gap. The project built on research evidence from a literature review of 77 articles.

International Consensus Results: Development of Practice Guidelines for Assessment of Peristomal Body and Stoma Profiles, Patient Engagement, and Patient Follow-up.

Evidence indicates that a common problem for the person with an ostomy is pouch leakage and the development of peristomal skin irritation, which can negatively affect quality of life. While it is clear that the pouching system seal leakage can cause profound problems for the person with an ostomy, little information is available on interventions that focus on leakage. To address this gap, an international group of ostomy nurse experts was convened to develop consensus-based practice guidelines to assist ostomy nurses in determining the best pouching system for the patient.

Evaluation of a new ostomy mouldable seal: an international product evaluation.

A new mouldable seal, Brava® Protective Seal, was evaluated by patients on aspects related to residue, durability, and preference. A total of 135 patients from four countries participated (Denmark, Germany, Japan and the USA) and the new product was compared to the patients' usual pouching systems. Less residue and easier skin cleansing was observed, which may benefit patient quality of life.

The ostomy skin tool: tracking peristomal skin changes.

The Ostomy Skin Tool is a standardized measuring instrument for assessing the extent and severity of peristomal skin change in terms of discolouration (D), erosion (E), and tissue overgrowth (T) (DET). The reliability and validity of this tool has been determined in a previous study. The purpose of this article is to highlight the study's most important findings, and to demonstrate the usefulness of the DET score by evaluating three examples of peristomal skin changes.