Survey of wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) nurse clinicians on stomal and peristomal complications: a content...

Validated and reliable stomal and peristomal complication definitions and associated interventions are lacking. Available literature is either narrowly medically focused or only of case study level. The objectives of this study were to establish content validation data for the proposed stomal and peristomal complication definitions and their associated interventions, to obtain the data related to contact with stomal and peristomal complication patients, and to gain insight into the ostomy care process.

A researcher-designed survey was sent to 2900 expert Wound, Ostomy and Continence nurse clinicians via a national mailing to a representative nonrandomized sample of participants who identified that they included ostomy care in their professional practice. In total, 686 nurses returned the survey, a response rate of 24%. The purposive sample was asked to quantify the degree of validity of the survey's stated stomal and peristomal definitions and interventions. Hand-written qualitative comments of the participants were transcribed, analyzed, and themes were derived.

On a scale of 1 to 4, the mean score for all definitions and interventions was 3.64 (SD=0.30). The overall survey's content validity index was .91. Ratings demonstrated high consensus validation on the stomal and peristomal definitions and interventions, with definitions scoring higher. The mean scores and the content validity index results on selected items were slightly lower for interventions, especially stomal interventions. Qualitative analysis of participants' comments about the whole instrument generated 10 themes and associated subthemes related to omitted complications and interventions and general observations about the ostomy care process and the validation research process.

The proposed stomal and peristomal definitions and interventions were rated as generally valid. Further research documenting validation of participants' comments is necessary. Given the findings, additional complications and interventions not identified in the literature were noted and need to be further scrutinized and researched.