Ostomy Care Nurses' Knowledge and Practice Related to Prevention and Management of Parastomal Hernias in Adults: A Nationwide Survey of UK Stoma Care Nurses.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge and practices of ostomy care nurses related to the United Kingdom's Association of Stoma Care Nurses (ASCN) 2016 guidelines for prevention and management of parastomal hernia (PSH) in adults.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Subjects and setting: The target population was approximately 300 stoma care nurses; 120 useable responses to the survey were received, reflecting a response rate of approximately 40%.

Methods: A 31-item questionnaire was developed for the purposes of this study, consisting of multiple choice and short answer questions grouped into 2 sections; demographics, and knowledge and practices. The questionnaire was distributed to members of the ASCN who work with adults via an online survey platform with the aim of reaching as many respondents as possible. The Chi-square test was used to determine relationships between the nominal demographic data and the nominal knowledge and practices data.

Results: Almost two-thirds of respondents (65%, n = 78) rated their knowledge relating to prevention and management of PSH as good or excellent. Nevertheless, 79.8% (n = 95) indicated they needed additional education to improve their knowledge and practice related to prevention of PSH. Those who rated their knowledge as excellent or good were significantly more likely to be aware of the guidelines compared to those who ranked their knowledge as average or poor.

Conclusions: Study findings suggest variability in knowledge among UK stoma care nurses, along with a desire for additional education in this area of care.