In This Issue of JWOCN
The idea of the Renaissance woman or man has several meanings. To some, it means that rare and valuable person who has in-depth knowledge across a range of subjects from the fine arts to the sciences, while to others it describes the equally rare individual who excels at all roles within a given field of knowledge. You will be familiar with several individuals who exemplify this ultimate level of contribution to WOC nursing, such as Beverly Hampton, Paula Erwin-Toth, Dorothy Doughty, or Janice Beitz. This Context for Practice begins by spotlighting Continence Care, because I want to introduce Vera Lucia Conceicao de Gouveia Santos to those of you who may not know her. Professor Santos teaches at the University of Sao Paolo, Brazil, and is the director of the most prestigious WOC/ET nurse educational program in that region of the world. In addition to these duties, Professor Santos is Consulting Editor to the Journal and serves as a mentor to nearly every article coming out of Brazil. She also is a regular contributor to the Journal. She is the corresponding author or coauthor on both articles appearing in this issue's Continence Care section. The first is a systematic review of the prevalence of constipation in the general adult population. This article, authored by Fernanda Schmidt and Professor Santos, synthesizes evidence about the epidemiology of constipation in the general adult population published between 2005 and 2011. You will want to read this article because it captures research published in multiple languages, and it exclusively focuses on data from population-based studies. The second article, authored by Professor Santos, Rita Domansky, Cintia Hanate, Danilo Soares Matos, Carla Benvenuto, and Jose Jorge, reports a study of self-reported fecal incontinence in a population-based sample of 2162 respondents. You will want to read this article to enhance your awareness of the prevalence of fecal incontinence, especially among women.
Margaret Willson, Melissa Anguus, Dawn Beals, Lauie Callan, Kathleen Francis, Michael Kingan and Opal Porras provide an executive summary of a quick guide for managing fecal incontinence. This article is a must read and must retain as an invaluable resource for any WOC nurse whose practice includes patients with fecal incontinence, and the well-known skin complications associated with exposure to stool.
Ever found a printed algorithm for care difficult or impossible to follow or to easily comprehend? This issue's Ostomy Care section opens with an article describing content validation of an interactive digital algorithm for ostomy care by Janice Beitz, Mary Gerlach, and Vickie Schafer. You will want to read this article to learn more about this novel and meticulously developed algorithm that I believe is one of the most user-friendly sources in WOC nursing.
Kingsley Simmons closes the Ostomy Care section with a well-written and provocative View From Here column that focuses on psychosocial issues in ostomy care. You will want to read this article to weigh your own experiences and insights in this hot topic in our field.
The predictive power of the various pressure risk scales continues to be one of the most stimulating topics in wound care today. Your Wound Care section opens with a strong contribution from Francisco Garcia-Fernandez, Pedro Pancorbo-Hidalgo, and J Agreda, who provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of the Braden, Norton, Waterlow, Cubbin-Jackson, and Mental State, Mobility Incontinence Nutrition Activity scales. You will want to read this article to gain insights into the characteristics of pressure ulcer risk scales you may not commonly use, and to see which proved most predictive when data from 57 studies were pooled and subjected to meta-analysis.
Gary Grove, Charles Zerweck, Bruce Ekholm, Graham Smith, and Nancy Koski published a study comparing gentleness of silicone versus paper tape in a group of healthy infants and children. You will want to read this valuable study to learn more about the concept of gentleness as a clinical outcome, and for a head-to-head comparison of a newer tape (silicone) to paper tape, traditionally considered the gentlest tape in clinical practice.
Material science may appear to bear little relationship to WOC nursing practice. However, the study published in this issue by Steven Reger, Vinoth Raganathan and Amy McNulty illustrate just how important this are of investigation is for our patients. These authors report results of a study of a powered coverlet for regulating skin temperature, removing excessive moisture and reducing bacteria and odors may prove when used in patients at risk for moisture associated skin damage and pressure ulcer formation. You will want to read this article to see for yourself whether the materials we place on a bed might be just as important as the pressure redistribution they cover.
Molly Gadd authored this issue's Clinical Challenges article, which uses a case study to question current reliance on cumulative Braden Scale for Pressure Sore Risk scores versus greater reliance on subscores. You will want to read this article to increase your awareness of this ongoing conversation and to determine whether you agree or disagree with the interesting perspective reflected in this case study and thoughtful discussion.
Two special features round out this rich and diverse issue. Jill Trelease authored this issue's WOCNCB Preparing for Certification. You will want to read this feature not only because it describes concept mapping as a technique for preparing for a certification examination but also because it covers foot care, a growing area of certification within our specialty practice. This second feature is the research spotlight. Written by Jane Arndt and Teresa Kelichi, this contribution from the WOCN Center for Clinical Investigation competes a series of articles focusing on instrument selection. This well-written contribution discusses selecting a tool for measuring wound size, stage or severity, characteristics, and progress toward healing.
Correction
Credentials in the Cleveland Clinic Hall of Fame notice in the September/October issue of the Journal should have read as follows:
Linda J Stricker, MSN, RN, CWOCN, Digestive Disease Institute, Director WOC Nursing Education, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH