Volume 40 Number 4

Guest editorial

Lorrie Gray 

For referencing Gray L. Guest editorial. WCET® Journal 2020;40(4):9

DOI https://doi.org/10.33235/wcet.40.4.9

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Author(s)

References

Thank you Jenny for the opportunity to provide an editorial comment for this celebratory edition of the WCET® Journal’s 40th year of publication – what an achievement of vision, persistence and straight out hard work this represents by a huge number of people over this significant time span.

I became a WCET® member in 1979 after completing my Stomal Therapy Nursing Education Program (STNEP) as these programs were called in Australia at that time. Despite living and working in a fairly isolated part of the world, I had been privileged to work with a variety of nurses from other countries, to begin a lifetime of travel to other parts of the world, and to appreciate the nursing education and service provided in Western Australia, not only to ostomy patients but also more generally.

The differences were stark in many of these countries and the benefit of an organisation with the express purpose of improving the care of ostomy patients worldwide had huge potential, although the task seemed immense. It still is, although huge strides forward have been made; the Journal has helped us all learn about these, as well as contributing directly as an educational resource.

Reviewing those early journals, it is evident the editors wanted to provide readers with a regular update of case studies, research papers and information on which nurses (who could read English) could depend. Not all articles would have been pertinent for all readers – there were many different contexts, levels of technical sophistication, availability of equipment and products, as well as cultural norms that were at odds with others, and a variety of healthcare practices which impacted on nurses’ ability to incorporate new knowledge, even when presented with compelling evidence.

Over time the influence of the organisation spread – I was involved with organising the 1986 WCET® 6th Biennial Congress in Perth, my first international exposure to more than the Journal and I remember being very impressed with so many passionate stomal therapy nurses / enterostomal therapy nurses / stoma nurses and other similar titles gathered together, proudly carrying their national flags and dressed in national costume. The published proceedings booklet1 contains articles on continence, urology, gastrointestinal tract diseases and management, gynaecological and sexual issues and a pot-pourri of other topics. Research and education matters were covered in workshop formats to enable smaller groups to be interactive, and presentations under the heading of ‘Who Cares’ provided a wide variety of topics covering the composite role of the specialist stoma nurse. These presentations were given by nurses and our medical colleagues from 10 different countries.

In addition, there was a large display of posters covering an even wider number of topics; these were created by an even greater number of practitioners wanting to share their experiences – what a super opportunity to learn. Interestingly, Norma N Gill reported the results of a worldwide survey she had conducted seeking feedback on the status of ostomy rehabilitation. The early efforts to establish support mechanisms, product supply and education of specialist nurses to improve the lot of ostomates in many countries makes for harrowing reading when reviewed in 2020. WCET® has achieved so much because of the drive and tenacity of those early pioneers, supported by a shared passion to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

Today, the WCET® Journal is mailed to members in 65 countries, is translated into four languages other than English and still remains true to its original purpose of advancing the specialised nursing care of people who have stoma, wound or continence needs. The education of nurses in those diverse countries continues to benefit from the support offered by this global entity; despite political and social differences, human needs, when confronted by a stoma, wound or incontinence, should be met initially by these specialist nurses. The advent of COVID-19 has curtailed travel, but the time has been used to explore alternative avenues for education and support, so the modern leaders show the same drive and tenacity to progress the cause as those earlier ones. I applaud you all and thank you sincerely.

Thank you.

感谢Jenny让我有机会为《WCET®杂志》创刊40周年的庆祝版撰写一篇社论, 这40年的历程代表着在这个非同寻常的时间跨度里,依靠许多人士的远见卓识、坚持不懈和辛勤工作所取得的巨大成就。

我在1979年成为了WCET®会员,当时我完成了我的造口治疗护理教育项目(STNEP),这是此类项目当时在澳大利亚的名称。尽管我生活和工作于处于世界上地理位置相对孤立的地区,但我有幸与来自其他国家的许多护士们共事,有幸开始了伴随我一生的往返于世界其他地区工作的生活,也有幸参加了西澳大利亚提供的不仅面向造口患者,也适用更广泛受众的护理教育和服务。

这些国家中许多国家之间的差异十分明显,对于一个明确致力于改善全球造口患者护理的组织而言,尽管任务似乎很艰巨,但这类组织的益处使其具有巨大的潜能。不过,虽然已取得了巨大的进步,但现在任务仍然艰巨;《杂志》帮助我们大家了解了这些信息,并作为教育资源直接做出了贡献。

回顾早期的杂志内容,显然,编辑们希望为读者提供定期更新的病例研究、研究论文和值得护士(能阅读英文)信赖的信息。并非所有的文章都与所有的读者相关 - 当时有许多不同的环境,技术先进程度、设备和产品的可用性各有不同,许多文化规范与其他文化规范不一致,还有各种医疗实践会影响护士吸收新知识的能力,即使提供了令人信服的证据也是如此。

随着时间的推移,组织的影响力逐渐扩大 - 我参与组织了1986年在珀斯举行的WCET®第六届双年度大会,这是我第一次在国际上接触到比《杂志》更多的内容,我记得当时许多充满激情的造口治疗护士/肠造口治疗护士/造口护士和其他类似职称的护士们齐聚一堂,他们身穿民族服装,自豪地举着他们的国旗,这令我十分印象深刻。出版的文集手册1收录了有关失禁、泌尿科、胃肠道疾病及管理、妇科及性问题等一系列主题的文章。研究和教育事项涵盖在研讨会的形式中进行讨论,使得较小的小组能够进行互动,在“谁护理”标题下的演讲提供了各种主题,涵盖了造口专科护士的复合角色。来自10个不同国家的护士和我们的医疗同仁们发表了这些演讲。

此外,还有涵盖更多主题的大型海报展示;这些是由更多希望分享经验的执业者创制的 - 这是一个绝佳的学习机会。值得关注的是,Norma N Gill报告了她进行的一项全球调查的结果,该调查旨在寻求对造口康复状态的反馈。在2020年回顾时,看到为改善许多国家造口患者的命运,早期付出的建立支持机制、确保产品供应和提供专科护士教育等方面的努力,让人在阅读时不禁感慨万千。WCET®之所以能取得如此大的成就,正是因为那些早期先驱者的魄力和执著,以及对人们的生活产生积极影响的共同激情。

如今,《WCET®杂志》寄往65个国家的会员,被翻译成除英语以外的四种语言,并且仍然坚持其最初的宗旨,即推动造口、伤口或控制失禁方面有护理需求的人们的专业护理。这些不同国家的护士教育继续受益于这一全球性组织提供的支持;尽管存在政治和社会差异,但当遇到造口、伤口或失禁问题时,这些专科护士应首先满足人的需求。COVID-19的出现减少了人们的旅行,但我们已将时间用来探索教育和支持的替代途径,所以现代领导者在推进这项事业时表现出的魄力和执著与早期领导者无异。我为你们鼓掌,并衷心感谢你们。

谢谢。

 


Author(s)

Lorrie Gray 

References

  1. WCET. Proceedings of the 6th Biennial Congress of the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists. Perth: Abbot International; 1986.