Multinational survey on living with an ostomy: prevalence and impact of peristomal skin complications

BACKGROUND: Peristomal skin complications (PSCs) impair life for people with an ostomy. Visual signs of PSCs include discolouration, but sensation symptoms like pain, itching, and burning are equally important and underreported. AIM: To provide improved understanding of PSC prevalence and associated challenges in the communities of ostomy patients and ostomy care nurses. METHODS: The Ostomy Life Study 2019 encompassed a patient survey (completed by 5187 people with an ostomy) and a nurse survey (completed by 328 ostomy care nurses). FINDINGS: In total, 88% of patients experienced PSCs and 75% experienced PSC symptoms in the absence of discolouration. Eighty per cent of nurses considered ostomy-related issues to be the main reason for PSCs, and a correlation between PSC severity and number of nurse consultations was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a remarkably high PSC incidence in the absence of discolouration and highlighted direct consequences of having compromised skin and the health-economic consequences.