IN THIS ISSUE OF JWOCN
In addition to providing the latest research and summarizing current best evidence and guidelines for clinical practice, this issue of the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing (JWOCN) describes the latest developments in products designed to aid with management of patients with wounds, ostomies, and incontinence. This issue continues our tradition of publishing authors from a global community seeking out JWOCN as their preferred journal when sharing the latest in research, practice innovations, and best practice in our specialty practice community (Figure).
Your Wound Care section opens with a quality improvement (QI) project that describes use of a protocol designed to prevent pressure injury to the nasal region in critically ill neonates requiring continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) management. Our awareness of and knowledge related to the prevention of medical device-related pressure injuries (MDRPIs) have grown significantly as WOC/wound care nurses strive to reach the ultimate goal of no facility-acquired pressure injuries. You will want to read this article, authored by Christie Lawrence, Lynn Mohr, Anne Geistkemper, Sara Murphy, and Kellianne Fleming, to determine the applicability of their QI initiative to your pressure injury prevention program. Linda Arundel, Evelyn Irani, and George Barkema also describe a QI project critically evaluating an MDRPI prevention program for critically ill patients managed by CPAP/BiPAP masks. Despite similarity in goals, differences in patient populations differentiate and complement the insights within each of these QI initiatives. Therefore, I strongly urge you to read both in your ongoing assessment of your prevention program for MDRPIs.
Charlotte Raepsaet, Elien Zwaenepoel, Benedicte Manderlier, Nele Van Damme, Sofie Verhaeghe, Ann Van Hecke, and Professor Dimitri Beeckman (Editorial Adviser to JWOCN) share findings from their observational study of an automated pulsating support system for prevention of pressure injuries in 10 long-term care facilities. Do these initial findings support this novel technology for pressure injury prevention in an especially vulnerable population (nursing home residents)? Read on and find out!
In this issue's Evidence-Based Report Card (EBRC), Charles Tilley, Mei Fu, Jeanna Qiu, Christopher Comfort, Brooke Crocilla, Zujun Li, and Deborah Axelrod systematically review evidence regarding the microbiome (aggregate of microbes reside on or within human tissues and secretions) and metabolome (aggregate of metabolically active chemicals found on or within human tissues and secretions) of malignant fungating wounds. This latest EBRC provides a cutting-edge and clinically relevant synthesis of current best evidence and clinical implications in this exciting new area of inquiry into wound care.
This issue's Ostomy Care section presents the Italian Guidelines for Nursing Management of Fecal and Urinary Ostomies in Adults. Authored by an interdisciplinary group (Gabriele Roveron, Maria Barbierato, Gianluca Rizzo, Dario Parini, Andrea Bondurri, Marco Veltri, Francesco Pata, Francesco Cattaneo, Alessandro Tafuri, Cristiana Forni, and Francesco Ferrara), these guidelines combine evidence-based care recommendations with best practice statements guiding care where evidence is sparse or absent. Far from a rote reproduction of WOCN Society or WCET guidelines, this article reflects similarities and differences in practice patterns in ostomy care impacted by geographic region, national health policies, and reimbursement patterns. Read on to inform your practice in the heart of WOC specialty practice, caring for those living with an ostomy.
Your Continence Care section begins with a cross-sectional survey describing methods for daily management of neurogenic bowel dysfunction in adults and children with spina bifida. Authored by Fabiana Faleiros (a regular contributor to JWOCN), Lilka Santos, Karina Bimbatti, and Christoph Kappler, this article provides badly needed evidence in an area of sparse research, management of neurogenic bowel dysfunction. The article is even more valuable because it provides surprising insights into bowel function among individuals with spina bifida who do not have myelomeningocele, the most prevalent form of this prevalent birth defect.
In this issue's Continence Care section, Sureyya Gumussoy, Oya Kaylak, and Ahmet Yeniel report findings from a randomized controlled trial comparing pelvic floor muscle training with and without extracorporeal magnetic innervation therapy. Advanced practice and continence advisers (including nurses certified as Certified Continence Care Nurse [CCCN] and Certified Continence Care Nurse-Advanced Practice [CCCN-AP]) in particular will want to read this clinically relevant trial when making decisions about your pelvic floor muscle training program.
This issue's Foot & Nail Care section looks at an issue that I believe to be one of the most important preventive efforts in this emerging area of our specialty practice, prevention of lower extremity amputation in persons with diabetic foot ulcers. Authored by Kyung-Chul Moon, Ji-Won Son, Seung-Kyu Han, and Jae-Yeon Kim, this retrospective study examines risk factors for amputation in patients with diabetes mellitus and midfoot ulcers. Similar to the ongoing race toward the elimination of facility-acquired pressure injuries, this must-read article is another milestone in efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate both diabetic foot ulcers and their most devastating complication: lower extremity amputation.
I found this issue's Clinical Challenges article particularly fascinating and innovative. The authors, one of whom has a colostomy and spinal cord injury resulting in quadriplegia, describe their experiences designing and creating an ostomy flange stabilizer that can be manufactured by anyone with a 3-dimensional printer. I applaud this group for their community-minded spirit, their highly innovative accomplishment, and their good sense for seeking out JWOCN to share this innovative project with the global community of ostomy care nurses!
Your Getting Ready for Certification feature article focuses on continence care (urinary incontinence). It provides questions for the CCCN and CCCN-AP credentials and is a must read for all nurses seeking these prestigious credentials.
Finally, this issue's NSWOCC Feature describes features and offerings that will be presented at their upcoming 2021 conference. Read on to find out more about this high-quality educational offering and to learn how you can stay connected with colleagues during the ongoing pandemic.