The Shape of Things to Come: An Alternative to Cut-to-Fit Barriers

Purpose:  To gather clinician and patient feedback on a new skin barrier.

Statement of Problem:  The skin barrier is the most important part of any pouching system.  An incorrect fit compromises skin integrity and security.  Although cut-to-fit barriers can provide a customized opening, some patients or nursing staff are unable to cut the barrier appropriately to assure a proper fit.  Current products do not address all the needs for varied stoma types and clinical applications.

Methods:  Over 80 community patients with different stoma types evaluated a new skin barrier that did not require a scissors to cut to the correct shape.  The majority found the barrier secure, easy to shape, comfortable, and it decreased their barrier changing time.  The results from this study led to an expanded evaluation of this barrier and an examination of the value from a clinical usage standpoint.

Subsequently, clinicians from five acute care sites evaluated the same barrier on over 100 patients using a standardized evaluation method.  They applied the barriers post-operatively when the stoma size and abdomen were still changing.  The barrier was determined to be easy to shape, flexible to skin folds and able to provide acceptable wear time.  All clinicians found target populations and settings where this barrier provided enhanced value for the patient.  Each clinician felt this would be a viable option for the patient after discharge.

Conclusion:  Cutting skin barriers can be difficult and inaccurate and can negatively impact outcomes for people with ostomies.  The data and photos from these clinical cases support a new barrier which offers an effective alternative to scissors for nurses and patients.  This technology provides skin protection, a customized opening, and security for people with different ostomy types.