Data from the 2019 WCET^® Membership Survey are reviewed and analysed. Discussion of the implications for WCET^® Executive Board (EB) consideration and action planning are presented. 

Introduction  The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world. It has impacted all healthcare professionals (HCPs), organisations and the people they serve in multiple ways. This includes the specialty area of nursing in ostomy and continence care. During this time, it is important to know what can be done to support clinicians and patients (end users) through understanding what they are experiencing and how they are adapting to this pandemic.

Objective  To gather research which describes the impact COVID-19 has had on clinicians and people with an ostomy or intermittent catheterisation requirements.

Methods  The research was conducted virtually to keep patients, clinicians and researchers safe but enable important learnings. Research modalities utilised were surveys and an observational study.

Results  This COVID-19 research shows that 57% of ostomy end users in the US and UK report peristomal skin issues in the past month. What has caused more concern is that 84% of ostomy end users report NOT contacting a HCP about their skin issues. In continence care, 49% of intermittent catheter (IC) users are more concerned about urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Despite these challenges, many ostomy end users (52%) and IC end users (37%) report not knowing if telehealth is an option for their care. Instead, this research shows that end users are accessing more information online – ostomy end users increased their online usage by 34% and IC end users by 50%. Both groups report the information they are seeking the most are tips for troubleshooting issues and information about the availability of their ostomy and continence products. This matches the ostomy nurse survey results that indicate clinicians are seeking information on ostomy education and product availability.

Conclusion  Early research suggests that ostomy and continence care patients alike are being negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As this is only the beginning of the global pandemic, much more research is needed.

Objective  The purpose of the research was to investigate how leakage of stomal effluent and peristomal skin complications (PSC) affects the quality of life (QoL) of people living with a stoma.

Method  Data were collected from an online questionnaire sent out to approximately 20,000 people living with a stoma. The validated Ostomy-Q scale was used to measure changes in QoL.

Results  More than 4,200 people from 13 countries completed the study between 30 August and 3 October 2016. Leakage had a statistically significant impact on the QoL for participants who experienced leakage four times (or more) out of ten baseplates changes. All four domains in the Ostomy-Q scale – confidence in stoma appliance, comfort, discretion and socialising – were affected. Also, people with PSC had a significantly lower QoL than those who had not experienced PSC in the 6 months before the survey. PSC impacted the confidence and comfort domains significantly. The discretion and socialising domains were also significantly affected by PSC but were below the pre-defined limit for a minimal important difference.

Conclusion  The data support that leakage and PSC have a significant physical and psychological impact on people living with a stoma.

Objective To retrospectively examine clinical outcomes from a feasibility study that compared two treatment options for deep-tissue pressure injuries (DTPIs), including the clinical indicators increasing the risk of deteriorating DTPIs among long-term care residents.

Methods A retrospective chart audit of 40 DTPIs from 33 long-term care residents in two long-term care facilities were conducted to compare 1: polymeric membrane dressings (PMDs) with offloading; and 2: a skin barrier film with offloading.

Results Of the 13 DTPIs treated with PMDs, only 23% deteriorated to a stage 3 or 4 pressure injury (PI), whereas of the 27 DTPIs treated with skin barrier film, 41% deteriorated to a stage 3 or 4 PI. The clinical factors found to increase the risk of developing and deteriorating DTPIs included weight loss, hypoalbuminemia, debility, dementia, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular disease.

Conclusions The PMD group’s DTPIs evolved into fewer open PIs despite having higher percentages of clinical indicators for DTPIs. The project findings support the use of PMD dressings for DTPIs; however, more robust research is warranted.

This article provides an overview of qualitative comments regarding parastomal hernia (PSH) taken from a survey of ostomy patients in the UK in 2018. This article also considers the importance of the role of the stoma nurse specialist in improving quality of life (QoL), reducing fear, and restoring confidence in patients with a stoma and/or a PSH.

This manuscript summarises the important clinical concept of having a skin care protocol to protect and treat skin against incontinence associated dermatitis (IAD) to prevent and minimise the association IAD has on the subsequent development of pressure injuries (PI). 

Skin protection for all skin tones is imperative to protect  skin against exaggerated late presentations of IAD.