Volume 45 Number 4

As the year ends, reflection of the year’s events wherever and whoever a person may be and whatever role they play in society is common. In my March Editorial I mused on 2025 being the WCET^® Journal’s 45th year of publication, its global outreach and its influence on improving the quality of life of people with wound, ostomy and continence issues¹.

It is a privilege to be the current custodial Editor of the WCET^® Journal and continue the legacy of the Journal, which is also the Official Journal of the International Inter-professional Wound Care Group. Without the inspiration, influence and dedication of all WCET^® Journal Editors, each of whom has added their own innovative styles and initiatives, this milestone would not have been achieved. Notably, the Journal is now published in five languages, which is unique.

The longevity of such publications is inter-dependent on many factors, not the least of which is content. To this end the WCET^® Board, as previously announced, has instigated the Elizabeth A Ayello First Time Author Award to inspire clinicians, researchers, educators and health professionals in related fields to publish for the first time. A judging panel will select the three top scoring articles by first time authors and forward these to the Editor to maker a final decision. The articles may fall into the following categories: Original Research, Literature Review/Clinical Practice, Case Study/Series, Translating Research and Knowledge into Clinical Practice, Clinical Practice Guidelines and Reviews of Research. Each article will be assessed on its significance, originality, methodology (if applicable), presentation and analysis and conclusion(s) or extrapolation into practice.

The short-listed authors will receive certificates of commendation and the winning author a certificate acknowledging being the recipient of the award. The winner and other short-listed authors will be invited to submit an abstract of their article at the next Congress.

Publishing and sharing your clinical, educational or research experiences with others is very powerful and may influence others to reflect on or change practices. Taking that first step to publish, however, can be daunting. Where do you start to write? An interactive Journal Writing workshop co presented by Greg Paull (Publisher) and I will be held at the forthcoming 25th Biennial 2026 joint WCET^®–NSWOCC^® Congress in Vancouver. Writing case studies will be one of the topics discussed.

In their case study, Doku and Gyamfi describe the management of a challenging iatrogenic bowel injury after myomectomy in a low resource setting in Ghana. The healing of the resultant large complex open abdominal wound with a high output ileostomy is testament to the benefits of inter-professional practice to address and overcome challenges faced.

Gunasegaran et al review the differences in healing in venous leg ulcers of patients who attend a wound clinic versus those who receive community care; the discerning factor being those who received low compression versus no compression within each setting.

Summa, provides the second article in our series on peristomal skin health. Examples of a “next generation of skin barrier” that improved peristomal skin health are presented through three case studies.

Further to describing the protocol for developing the WCET^®’s third International Ostomy Guideline,² Haesler et al present the results of stakeholder survey assessing the clinical questions that will underpin the revised guideline. Input from stakeholders, including individuals living with an ostomy, will ensure guideline recommendations are globally relevant, feasible, appropriate, meaningful and effective.

I would like to sincerely thank all reviewers who completed reviews of the manuscripts that were submitted to the WCET^® Journal in 2025.

Thank you to Elizabeth Ayello, Jayne Campbell, Eva Carlsson, Jill Cox, Margaret Edmondson, Kathleen Finlayson, Beth Freeman-Gray, Nikki Frescos, Wen-Pei Huang, Janet Kuhnke, Donna Larsen, Peter Chi Keung Lai, Sarah Lebovits, Kai Li Lee, Daniel O’Neill, Lynette Rodriguez, Alan Shackleton, Hiske Smart and Saldy Yusuf.

Special thanks to those who reviewed multiple manuscripts.

The voluntary contribution that each reviewer makes contributes greatly to the high standards that the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists Journal strives to achieve.

Thanks also to Emily Haesler for presenting and coordinating the WHAM Evidence Summaries for low- and middle-income countries throughout the year.

To continue to have a positive global influence on wound ostomy and continence care I look forward to you all accepting the challenge to share your experiences through publication.

Very best wishes for the festive season and 2026.

Jenny

Author(s)

Jenny Prentice
PhD BN RN STN FAWMA

References

1. Prentice J. Moving forward. WCET^® Journal 2025;45(1):7.
2. Haesler E et al. Methodology for the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists® International Ostomy Guideline third edition. WCET^® Journal 2025;45(2):13-21.