Positive impact of our original “flowchart for selecting ostomy appliances” and “portable ostomy appliance set” on the early selection of an appropriate ostomy appliance

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the positive impact of our original “flowchart for selecting ostomy appliances” (FLOWCHART) and “portable ostomy appliance set” (SET), introduced in September 2019, on the early selection of an appropriate ostomy appliance.

Methods: The subjects were patients who had an intestinal stoma created between September 2018 and September 2020. They were divided into groups of those who underwent stoma creation before (Before Group, BG) or after (After Group, AG) the introduction of the FLOWCHART and SET. The two groups were compared regarding the time from stoma creation to ostomy appliance decision (Decision time), the number of appliance exchanges, and the rate of appliance-type change at their first visit to the stoma outpatient clinic.

Results: In total, 176 patients were analyzed. Their mean age (±SD) was 64.2±13.8 years and 101 (57%) were men. The BG and AG comprised 91 and 85 patients, respectively. The Decision time was significantly shorter in the AG than in the BG (13.1 vs. 18.3 days, p < 0.001). The mean number of appliance exchanges was significantly smaller in the AG than in the BG (5.8 vs. 8.5 times, p < 0.001). The rate of appliance-type change was also significantly smaller in the AG than in the BG (17% vs. 51%, p = 0.0001).

Conclusion: These results suggest that the FLOWCHART and SET are effective for facilitating the early selection of an appropriate ostomy appliance.