Evidence-based guideline 'Incontinent Urostomy' published

The European Association of Urology Nurses (EAUN) presented their 'Incontinent Urostomy; Good Practice in Health Care' document last March in Stockholm (Sweden) during the 10th International EAUN meeting, held in conjunction with the 24th Annual EAU Congress. The aim of this document is to provide the best and most up-to-date information on this topic and thereby assist nurses working in the urological field.

This is the first time ever an evidence-based guidelines document on incontinent urostomy has been published. A multi-disciplinary group of nurses were involved in the development of the text: Hanny Cobussen-Boekhorst (NL), Sharon Fillingham (GB), Sharon Holroyd (GB), Berit Kiesbye (DK), Susanne Vahr (DK) and Veronika Geng (DE).

To produce such a document according to evidence-based principles within a period of only 5 months posed a distinct challenge to the working group. Even though incontinent urostomy is a very focused topic, having to deal with strict processes such as structured database development and evidence extraction to be translated into graded recommendations for the first time was a distinct learning experience. The EAUN have committed themselves to continue the evidence-based approach when producing their guidance documents.

The guideline consists of two main sections:

Part 1: Methodology description. Cystectomy: indications, pre- and post-operative care: management principles, nursing intervention, special pre-operative assessment, patient preparation and post-operative care for patients after cystectomy.

Part 2: Incontinent Urostomy: Community care, follow-up and complications: indications for urostomies, post-operative care and complications, products and appliances, problems with permanent urostomy.

The document includes close to 100 recommendations, each supported by the relevant evidence. The EAUN consider that this will support the evidence-based management of urostomy care.

Prior to publication the text was reviewed by a group of urological experts, including several urologists, representatives of 3 national urological nursing associations and the EAU Guidelines Office.

Source: European Association of Urology