Lesson 1Peristomal skin assessment: irritant vs allergic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, candidiasis, maceration, excoriationCovers systematic peristomal skin assessment, distinguishing irritant and allergic dermatitis, recognising contact dermatitis, candidiasis, maceration, and excoriation, and linking findings to causes, prevention, and treatment options.
Baseline inspection and palpation of peristomal skinFeatures of irritant versus allergic dermatitisRecognizing contact dermatitis from adhesivesIdentifying candidiasis and moisture-associated damageAssessment of maceration, erosion, and excoriationLesson 2Managing high-output and semi-liquid effluent: pouch choice, anti-diarrhoeal strategies, fluid/electrolyte considerationsAddresses assessment and management of high-output and semi-liquid effluent, including pouch selection, accessories, antidiarrhoeal strategies, diet, and fluid and electrolyte monitoring to prevent dehydration and renal injury.
Defining and monitoring high-output stomasPouch and accessory choices for liquid effluentDietary and pharmacologic antidiarrheal measuresFluid, electrolyte, and renal status monitoringEscalation criteria and when to involve providersLesson 3Documentation and photographic monitoring: standardised descriptors and measurement techniquesFocuses on accurate documentation and photographic monitoring of stomas and peristomal skin, including standardised descriptors, measurement methods, consent, privacy, and serial comparison to track healing or deterioration.
Standardized terminology for stoma descriptionMeasuring stoma size, height, and locationPhotographic technique and patient consentSecure storage and privacy considerationsUsing serial photos to track progressionLesson 4Anatomy and physiology of stomas: types, location, and expected outputsReviews stoma anatomy and physiology, including intestinal and urinary stoma types, typical locations, construction methods, and expected effluent characteristics, linking these factors to appliance choice and complication risk.
Intestinal segments used for stoma creationTypical locations for colostomy, ileostomy, urostomyStoma structure: lumen, mucosa, and spout heightExpected effluent volume and consistency by typePhysiologic changes after diversion surgeryLesson 5Infection prevention and safe technique during appliance changes: sterile vs clean technique, hand hygiene, waste disposalExplores infection prevention during pouch changes, comparing sterile and clean technique, emphasising hand hygiene, safe waste handling, environmental controls, and strategies to reduce cross-contamination in varied care settings.
Indications for sterile versus clean techniqueHand hygiene and glove use for ostomy carePreparing a clean, low-contamination work areaSafe disposal of used pouches and suppliesReducing cross-contamination between body sitesLesson 6Postoperative stoma assessment: colour, perfusion, prolapse, retraction, mucocutaneous separationCovers structured postoperative stoma assessment, including colour, perfusion, oedema, bleeding, prolapse, retraction, and mucocutaneous separation, with early recognition of ischaemia and urgent referral criteria.
Immediate postoperative stoma inspection stepsAssessing color, turgor, and perfusionRecognizing prolapse and retraction changesIdentifying mucocutaneous separationUrgent findings requiring rapid escalationLesson 7Accessories and skin protection: barriers, paste, rings, strips, skin protectant films and powders, adhesive removersDetails use of accessories and skin protection products, including barriers, pastes, rings, strips, films, powders, and adhesive removers, with indications, application techniques, compatibility, and safety considerations for different stoma types.
Choosing appropriate barrier products by skin statusUse of paste, rings, and strips to fill skin foldsSkin protectant films and powders: when and howSafe and gentle use of adhesive removersAvoiding product buildup and incompatibilitiesLesson 8Risk assessment tools relevant to ostomies: Braden Scale for skin risk, stoma complication checklists, nutritional screening tools (MUST/SGA) and glucose control considerationsExamines risk assessment tools relevant to ostomy patients, including Braden Scale for skin risk, stoma complication checklists, nutritional screening tools such as MUST and SGA, and the impact of glucose control on healing.
Using the Braden Scale in ostomy patientsStructured stoma complication checklistsApplying MUST and SGA for nutrition riskGlycemic control and wound healing outcomesIntegrating risk scores into care planningLesson 9Stoma measurement and appliance selection: convex vs flat flanges, one-piece vs two-piece systems, flange sizes and wafer shapeExplains accurate stoma measurement and appliance selection, comparing convex and flat flanges, one-piece and two-piece systems, and choosing flange size and wafer shape to optimise fit, wear time, and skin protection.
Measuring stoma diameter and contour safelySelecting flat versus convex flange designsChoosing one-piece versus two-piece systemsDetermining flange size and wafer shapeTrialing and reassessing fit over time
