Observational Study of the Quality of Life of New Ostomates Using SenSura Mio Appliances With BodyFit Technology

Today, there are about 80,000 people with ostomies in France and 19,000 ostomies are created each year.

An ostomy is defined by a viscera reaching the skin, outside its natural location, by diversion of the digestive (enterostomy) or urinary (ureterostomy) tract. Digestive ostomies are temporary or permanent palliative surgeries that consist of connecting a segment of the healthy digestive tract to the surface of the skin, either downstream or upstream of a lesion. There are several reasons for this type of stoma: following colorectal cancer or IBD (chronic inflammatory bowel disease), or to decompress and drain the digestive tract in occlusion, or to protect a digestive anastomosis by temporarily diverting the intestinal flow. Urinary ostomies are usually performed following bladder cancer or neurogenic bladder that has resulted in the removal of the bladderr. The urinary tract is then diverted to allow the evacuation of urine into an artificial pouch.

The bodily injury, the creation of a stoma, can have serious familiar, social and professional repercussions. An early follow-up from the preoperative phase and long-term technical and psychological support promote an adaptation of quality. Helping the patient to live well with his disability is a complex task that mobilizes the skills of a multidisciplinary team of caregivers. Mastery of surgical techniques for the creation of ostomies and close collaboration between the surgeon and the stoma therapist are essential for the personalized care of ostomy patients.

Advances in various devices, bag systems and irrigation systems are concrete means that contribute greatly to improving the patient's quality of life. In this context of technological advances, COLOPLAST has developed a range of devices for incontinent digestive and urinary stomas, SenSura Mio Technology BodyFit®. This range of pouches adapts to peristomal morphology and body movements due to an elastic adhesive for a secure fit to individual body shapes. In addition, the pouches are designed to remain discreet and maximize wearing comfort due to a neutral-grey color water-repellent textile material, invisible even under white clothing, and a full-circle prefilter to differ filter saturation for proven reduction of ballooning.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the use of SenSura Mio products in real-life conditions in patients with recent ostomies. For this purpose, we will use the Stoma-QoL specific quality of life scale, as well as the Peristomal Skin Condition Rating Scale (DET Score).

The Stoma-QoL tool was developed and validated specifically for ostomy patients in 2005 at the initiative of COLOPLAST and in close collaboration with international experts, with the aim of evaluating the impact of ostomy related concerns on the quality of life of ostomy patients on the one hand, and improving and facilitating their follow-up on the other hand. Potential items were formulated based on the results of a series of semi-structured interviews conducted with 169 adult subjects who had ostomies for a long time. The process resulted in a preliminary version of 37 items, administered repeatedly to 182 subjects with an ileostomy or colostomy. A psychometric selection of the items was performed using a Rasch model. The Stoma-QOL questionnaire has in its most refined version 20 questions covering 4 domains, not scored independently: sleep, intimate relationships, relationships with family and close friends, and social relationships with other people. This 20-item version has been validated internationally in ileo- or colostomized patients. On average, the value of the overall Stoma-QoL score was 58.5 with the lowest mean value (53.8) observed in France and the highest mean value (62.6) in Denmark. Stoma-QoL can be offered to ostomy patients who have already lived at least 1 month with their stoma and appliance.

The DET Score -also known as the Ostomy Skin Tool- is a measurement tool for assessing the extent and severity of peristomal skin problems. It was developed by Martins et al in 2008, at the initiative of COLOPLAST and in close collaboration with international experts, with the intention of improving the monitoring of peristomal skin conditions in ostomy patients and optimizing communication between healthcare professionals. The DET Score is divided into three areas: Discoloration (D), Erosion (E) and Tissue Proliferation (T). For each area, a maximum of 5 points can be awarded, 3 for the affected area and 2 for severity. The scores for each domain should be based solely on observations of each subject's skin, not on past experience. Photographs of problem skin are included in this rating scale and can be used as a guide for scoring severity. Once the score for each domain has been assessed, a total score is calculated by adding the numbers. A score of 0 represents normal skin while a score of 15 represents maximum skin severity around the stoma. The DET Score was validated in 2011 18: it is now widely used and has been translated into several languages. Skin problems are considered mild if DET Score ≤ 4; moderate if DET Score < 7; severe if DET Score ≥ 7. The mean value observed in an international study of more than 3,000 ostomy patients was 2.5 (± 2.8).

The objectives of the present study are multiple: to evaluate the quality of life of patients with recent ostomies using SenSura Mio appliances during the first three months following hospital discharge, to evaluate the condition of the peristomal skin during this same period and to look for factors predictive of a better quality of life. The data collected in this study will help to better document the factors influencing the quality of life of French patients with recent ostomies and the value of using the new SenSura Mio appliances. This study will also provide a better understanding of the incidence of skin problems in the early follow-up phase (first three months) and the main corrective actions taken by the ostomy nurses.

The QoL Mio study population will be composed of adults with recent ostomies (stoma preparation < 1 month), with liquid effluent (right colostomy, ileostomy, jejunostomy or urostomy), for whom healthcare professionals have recommended the use of SenSura Mio devices for ostomy care as part of the routine care. Because liquid effluents can seep under the adhesive on the skin, this population (ostomy with liquid effluents) has a higher risk of peristomal skin damage with irritant dermatitis by contact with corrosive effluents. The BodyFit technology (conforms to folds and irregularities of the skin) of SenSura Mio devices appears to be particularly suitable in this population to preserve the integrity of the peristomal skin.