References

En kartlägning av stomimarknaden i sverige (A mapping of the ostomy market in Sweden). 2017. https://tinyurl.com/4dxbp4da (accessed 14 February 2023)

Burch J, Boyles A, Maltby E Keep it simple: peristomal skin health, quality of life and wellbeing. Br J Nurs. 2021; 30:5-24 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2021.30.Sup6.1

Carlsson E, Fingren J, Hallén AM, Petersén C, Lindholm E. The prevalence of ostomy-related complications 1 year after ostomy surgery: A prospective, descriptive, clinical study. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2016; 62:(10)34-48

Claessens I, Probert R, Tielemans C The Ostomy Life Study: the everyday challenges faced by people living with a stoma in a snapshot. Gastrointestinal Nursing. 2015; 13:(5)18-25 https://doi.org/10.12968/gasn.2015.13.5.18

Colwell JC, Bain KA, Hansen AS, Droste W, Vendelbo G, James-Reid S. International consensus results: development of practice guidelines for assessment of peristomal body and stoma profiles, patient engagement, and patient follow-up. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2019; 46:(6)497-504 https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000000599

Colwell JC, Stoia Davis J, Emodi K Use of a convex pouching system in the postoperative period: A national consensus. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2022; 49:(3)240-246 https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000000874

Erwin-Toth P, Thompson SJ, Davis JS. Factors impacting the quality of life of people with an ostomy in North America: results from the Dialogue Study. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2012; 39:(4)417-422 https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0b013e318259c441

Fellows J, Voegeli D, Håkan-Bloch J, Herschend NO, Størling Z. Multinational survey on living with an ostomy: prevalence and impact of peristomal skin complications. Br J Nurs. 2021; 30:(16)S22-S30 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2021.30.16.S22

Hansen AS, Colwell J, Droste W, Vendelbo G, James-Reid S. Assessment of peristomal body profile to ensure the right fit to help prevent leakage. WCET Journal. 2022; 42:S8-S11 https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.438744906653153

Hedegaard C, Ajslev T, Zeeberg R, Hansen A. Leakage and peristomal skin complications influences user comfort and confidence and are associated with reduced quality of life in people with a stoma. WCET Journal. 2020; 40:(4)23-29 https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.777740238478059

Hoeflok J, Kittscha J, Purnell P. Use of convexity in pouching: a comprehensive review. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2013; 40:(5)506-512 https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0b013e3182a219b7

James-Reid S, Bain K, Hansen AS, Vendelbo G, Droste W, Colwell J. Creating consensus-based practice guidelines with 2000 nurses. Br J Nurs. 2019; 28:(22)S18-S25 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2019.28.22.S18

Jansen F, van Uden-Kraan CF, Braakman JA, van Keizerswaard PM, Witte BI, Verdonck-de Leeuw IM. A mixed-method study on the generic and ostomy-specific quality of life of cancer and non-cancer ostomy patients. Support Care Cancer. 2015; 23:(6)1689-1697 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2528-1

Jeppesen PB, Vestergaard M, Boisen EB, Ajslev TA. Impact of stoma leakage in everyday life: data from the Ostomy Life Study 2019. Br J Nurs. 2022; 31:(6)S48-S58 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2022.31.6.S48

Krogsgaard M. Parastomal bulging – patients' symptoms, health-related quality of life and course of surgical treatment.Denmark: University of Copenhagen; 2020

Krogsgaard M, Kristensen HØ, Furnée EJB Life with a stoma across five European countries—a cross-sectional study on long-term rectal cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer. 2022; 30:(11)8969-8979 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07293-y

Kruse TM, Størling ZM. Considering the benefits of a new stoma appliance: a clinical trial. Br J Nurs. 2015; 24:(22) https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2015.24.Sup22.S12

Martins L, Andersen BD, Colwell J Challenges faced by people with a stoma: peristomal body profile risk factors and leakage. Br J Nurs. 2022; 31:(7)376-385 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2022.31.7.376

Martins L, Tavernelli K, Sansom W Strategies to reduce treatment costs of peristomal skin complications. Br J Nurs. 2012; 21:(22)1312-1315 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2012.21.22.1312

Maydick-Youngberg D. A descriptive study to explore the effect of peristomal skin complications on quality of life of adults with a permanent ostomy. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2017; 63:(5)10-23

Meisner S, Lehur PA, Moran B, Martins L, Jemec GBE. Peristomal skin complications are common, expensive, and difficult to manage: a population based cost modeling study. PLoS One. 2012; 7:(5) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0037813

Nafees B, Størling ZM, Hindsberger C, Lloyd A. The ostomy leak impact tool: development and validation of a new patient-reported tool to measure the burden of leakage in ostomy device users. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2018; 16:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-018-1054-0

Nichols T, Goldstine J, Inglese G. A multinational evaluation assessing the relationship between peristomal skin health and health utility. Br J Nurs. 2019; 28:(5)S14-S19 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2019.28.5.S14

Nordic Co-operation. Facts about the Nordic countries. 2021. https://www.norden.org/en/information/facts-about-nordic-countries (accessed 9 February 2023)

NORILCO [Norwegian Association for Ostomy, Reservoir and Gastrointestinal Cancer]. Utfordringer for stomiopererte i Norge (Challenges for ostomy patients in Norway). 2015. https://www.norilco.no/aktuelt/utfordringer-for-stomiopererte-i-norge-en-rapport (accessed 14 February 2023)

Nybaek H, Jemec GBE. Skin problems in stoma patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010; 24:(3)249-257 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03566.x

Perrin A, White M, Burch J. Convexity in stoma care: developing a new ASCN UK guideline on the appropriate use of convex products. Br J Nurs. 2021; 30:(16)S12-S20 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2021.30.16.S12

Porrett T, Nováková S, Schmitz K, Klimekova E, Aaes H. Leakage and ostomy appliances: results from a large-scale, open-label study in clinical practice. Gastrointestinal Nursing. 2011; 9:19-23 https://doi.org/10.12968/gasn.2011.9.Sup2.19

Richbourg L, Thorpe JM, Rapp CG. Difficulties experienced by the ostomate after hospital discharge. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2007; 34:(1)70-79 https://doi.org/10.1097/00152192-200701000-00011

Simmons KL, Smith JA, Bobb KA, Liles LLM. Adjustment to colostomy: stoma acceptance, stoma care self-efficacy and interpersonal relationships. J Adv Nurs. 2007; 60:(6)627-635 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04446.x

Taneja C, Netsch D, Rolstad BS, Inglese G, Eaves D, Oster G. Risk and economic burden of peristomal skin complications following ostomy surgery. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2019; 46:(2)143-149 https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000000509

Taneja C, Netsch D, Rolstad BS, Inglese G, Lamerato L, Oster G. Clinical and economic burden of peristomal skin complications in patients with recent ostomies. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2017; 44:(4)350-357 https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000000339

Tonks N, Rolls N, Bain K, Russell-Roberts P, Bain M. Results of an audit of the Peristomal Body Profile Assessment Tool. Br J Nurs. 2022; 31:(22)S4-S12 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2022.31.22.S4

Stoma Care

Using peristomal body profile assessment to improve leakage-related quality of life for individuals with an ostomy

23 February 2023

Professional

02 February 2023

Volume 32 · Issue 4

ISSN (print): 0966-0461

ISSN (online): 2052-2819

Abstract

Background:

Improper fitting between peristomal body profile and ostomy product(s) is one of the main reasons for leakage among individuals with an ostomy.

Aim:

To evaluate clinical usability of the Body Assessment Tool developed by Coloplast that is available free of charge. The aim was also to study how changing to product(s) that were best suited to an individual, guided by peristomal body profile, affected the number of leakages and individuals' quality of life.

Methods:

The study consisted of questionnaires administered before and after the study, which spanned 4–5 weeks. A total of 22 nurses and 68 individuals with an ostomy participated in four Nordic countries.

Findings:

Of the 22 nurses, 21 recommended use of the tool. A shift to best fitting ostomy product(s) resulted in a significant decrease in the number of leakages (from 5.9 to 1.8 per 7 days) and a substantial improvement in quality of life.

Conclusion:

The findings support the use of the Body Assessment Tool in clinical practice and the results showed that optimally fitting ostomy product(s) reduced the number of leakages and increased individuals' quality of life.

Creation of an ostomy can be life saving for people with conditions such as colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, gynaecological cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and diverticulitis (Burch et al, 2021). An ostomy is surgically created from the gastrointestinal or the urogenital tract to either temporarily or permanently exteriorise the colon or ileum to the skin and, in this way, provide a diversion for stool or urine (Colwell et al, 2019).

From a total population of approximately 27 million inhabitants in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden (Nordic Co-operation, 2021) around 86 000 or 0.3% are estimated to live with an ostomy, and this number has increased gradually over at least the preceding decade (NORILCO, 2015; Blixt et al, 2017; Krogsgaard, 2020). In these countries, qualified stoma care nurses play a central role in promoting and supporting self-care among people with an ostomy.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting British Journal of Nursing and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for nurses. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

Limited access to clinical or professional articles
Unlimited access to the latest news, blogs and video content

Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address

Leakage

Ostomy

Patient experience

Quality of life

Peristomal body profile

Stoma