Lesson 1Pain, mobility and functional assessment tools relevant to wound and stoma careThis section reviews validated tools to assess pain, mobility, and functional status in patients with wounds and ostomies, highlighting how symptom burden, gait, transfers, and self-care capacity influence care planning, device selection, and rehabilitation goals in local settings.
Selecting appropriate pain rating scalesScreening for neuropathic and procedural painEvaluating gait, transfers, and enduranceAssessing self-care ability for stoma careIncorporating findings into care planningLesson 2Pressure injury assessment using NPUAP/EPUAP staging, measuring dimensions, exudate, and peri-wound skinThis section explains pressure injury assessment using NPUAP/EPUAP staging, accurate measurement of wound dimensions, evaluation of exudate and odor, and detailed peri-wound skin inspection to guide prevention, support surface selection, and treatment in Ghanaian hospitals.
Applying NPUAP/EPUAP staging criteriaIdentifying deep tissue pressure injuryMeasuring length, width, and depthAssessing exudate type and volumeEvaluating peri-wound skin and underminingLesson 3Psychosocial assessment: body image, anxiety, caregiver readiness, and health literacyThis section addresses psychosocial assessment, including body image disturbance, anxiety, depression, coping, caregiver readiness, and health literacy, and explains how these factors affect adherence, self-management, and the need for tailored education in Ghanaian culture.
Screening for anxiety and depressive symptomsExploring body image and sexual concernsAssessing coping style and support systemsEvaluating caregiver readiness and burdenAssessing health literacy and learning needsLesson 4Nutrition, glycemic control, and infection-risk screening relevant to wound healing and ostomy managementThis section reviews assessment of nutritional status, glycemic control, and infection risk, emphasizing screening tools, key laboratory markers, medication review, and how deficits in these domains delay wound healing and complicate ostomy management in Ghana.
Screening for malnutrition and weight lossEvaluating protein and micronutrient intakeReviewing glycemic control and medicationsIdentifying systemic and local infection risksIntegrating findings into care plansLesson 5Systematic stoma assessment: size, shape, color, edema, mucocutaneous junction, prolapse, retraction, bleedingThis section details a stepwise stoma assessment, including inspection of size, shape, color, and edema, evaluation of the mucocutaneous junction, and recognition of complications such as prolapse, retraction, bleeding, and ischemia in everyday practice.
Measuring stoma size and contour accuratelyAssessing stoma color, moisture, and perfusionIdentifying edema, prolapse, and retractionEvaluating mucocutaneous junction integrityRecognizing bleeding, necrosis, and ischemiaLesson 6Assessment of surgical abdominal wounds: wound bed characteristics, depth, drainage, staples/sutures, signs of dehiscence and infectionThis section covers systematic assessment of surgical abdominal wounds, including wound bed tissue types, depth, tunneling, drainage, odor, staples or sutures, and early signs of dehiscence, infection, and fistula formation relevant to ostomy patients in Ghana.
Describing wound bed tissue and viabilityMeasuring wound size, depth, and tunnelingCharacterizing drainage amount and odorInspecting staples, sutures, and tensionDetecting dehiscence, infection, and fistulaLesson 7Colostomy output assessment: consistency, volume, frequency, odor, and implications for hydration and electrolytesThis section focuses on colostomy output assessment, including consistency, volume, frequency, gas, and odor, and interprets findings for hydration, electrolyte balance, bowel function, medication effects, and need for dietary or fluid adjustments in local diets.
Describing stool consistency and formTracking output volume and frequencyRecognizing high-output and constipationAssessing odor, gas, and food influencesRelating findings to hydration and labsLesson 8Peristomal skin evaluation: erythema, excoriation, dermatitis, fungal infection, and measurement techniquesThis section focuses on structured peristomal skin evaluation, emphasizing recognition of erythema, erosion, dermatitis, and fungal infection, along with standardized measurement, documentation, and use of assessment tools to guide targeted interventions in Ghana.
Classifying erythema, erosion, and ulcerationIdentifying irritant and allergic dermatitisRecognizing candidiasis and other infectionsUsing measurement tools and photo documentationLinking findings to appliance fit problems
