Lesson 1Pain, mobility and functional assessment tools relevant to wound and stoma careThis part reviews proven tools for evaluating pain, movement, and daily functions in patients with wounds and ostomies, showing how symptoms, walking, transfers, and self-care affect planning, device choices, and recovery 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 part explains assessing pressure injuries with NPUAP/EPUAP stages, precise wound measurements, exudate and smell checks, and detailed skin inspections to aid prevention, surface choices, and treatment in resource-limited environments.
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 part deals with psychosocial checks, covering body image issues, worry, depression, coping, caregiver preparation, and health understanding, explaining their impact on compliance, self-care, and customised teaching for diverse communities.
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 part reviews checks for nutrition status, blood sugar control, and infection risks, focusing on tools, lab tests, medication reviews, and how shortages delay healing and complicate ostomy care in Namibian patients.
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 part outlines step-by-step stoma checks, including size, shape, colour, swelling, junction evaluation, and spotting issues like prolapse, retraction, bleeding, and poor blood flow for timely interventions.
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 part covers detailed checks of surgical abdominal wounds, including tissue types, depth, tunnels, drainage, smell, staples or stitches, and early signs of splitting, infection, and fistulas in ostomy patients.
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 part concentrates on assessing colostomy output, covering consistency, amount, frequency, gas, and smell, interpreting results for fluid balance, salts, bowel work, drug effects, and diet or fluid needs adjustments.
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 part emphasises structured checks of skin around the stoma, recognising redness, irritation, skin conditions, and fungal issues, with standard measurements, records, and tools to direct specific treatments.
Classifying erythema, erosion, and ulcerationIdentifying irritant and allergic dermatitisRecognizing candidiasis and other infectionsUsing measurement tools and photo documentationLinking findings to appliance fit problems
