The WCET International Ostomy Guideline: A Global Resource for Culturally Competent Ostomy Care

We live in a very mobile society.  People travel across the globe each day.  This means that someone may be far from home when they experience a need for health care.  Consequently, it is important that health care not only be evidence based, but provided with consideration of the person’s cultural and religious needs.  Unfortunately, most health care providers are not trained in cultural competence.

The World Council of Enterostomal Therapy (WCET) International Ostomy Guideline (IOG) (2014)¹ was developed after a comprehensive search of the literature.  The literature was reviewed and ranked as to level of evidence.  The evidence was then used to formulate nine fundamental ostomy care recommendations.  These universal recommendations provide a basis for stoma care that is appropriate for both resource abundant and resource scarce settings.  Additionally this care should be culturally appropriate for the individual cared for. The WCET IOG incorporates information from the Purnell Model for Cultural Competence.² The purpose of this presentation is to present the IOG 9 fundamental ostomy care recommendations and to discuss the religious and cultural implications that are involved in the comprehensive care of ostomy patients.³