title: Study of peristomal skin disorders in patients with permanent stomas.
abstract: The aim of this article was to investigate the frequency, severity and diversity of peristomal skin disorders among individuals with a permanent stoma in a community population. All individuals with a permanent stoma (n=630) in a Danish community population were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study. A total of 202 individuals (101 men; 101 women) agreed to participate. Data were collected through questionnaires and clinical examinations. It was found that peristomal skin disorders were higher for participants with an ileostomy (57%) and urostomy (48%) than in those with a colostomy (35%). Of the diagnoses of skin disorders, 77% could be related to contact with stoma effluent. Only 38% of diagnosed participants agreed that they had a skin disorder and more than 80% did not seek professional health care. The study revealed a high frequency of peristomal skin disorders. Participants frequently failed to perceive that they had a skin irritation and did not seek help. This suggests that more education and perhaps regular, annual follow-up visits at local stoma care clinics are needed.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Gastroenterology Department, Hvidovre University Hospital, Dennmark.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herlufsen
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carlsen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nybaek
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karlsmark
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Laursen
authors.forename: G B E
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Jemec
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003125:Colostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003559:Cystostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010030:Ostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012648:Self Care; D017592:Skin Care; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D054047:Surgical Stomas / Q000009:adverse effects*