Telenursing aids stoma patients with product use

Adults in Türkiye who received telenursing after colostomy or ileostomy surgery described how remote support helped them manage their appliances and skin care.

Between September 30 and October 30, 2024, researchers interviewed seven adults, five men and two women aged 18 to 77, about their experiences with a private healthcare provider’s telenursing service. Participants valued the quick, detailed advice they received on issues like adapter fit, leakage, and skin irritation, often sending photos to the telenurses for assessment.

The interviews revealed that patients used the service to address practical uncertainties throughout the stoma-care process, including questions about cleaning, responding to changes in output, and applying skin-protective products. One patient successfully switched to a dimpled adapter after receiving remote advice to stop constant leakage, and others reported improvements in comfort and irritation with adjusted products. Participants also described feeling safer and more confident in their ability to manage their care at home thanks to the accessible and comprehensive support.

While they often relied on the telenurse as a primary source of technical guidance, they also consulted physicians for urgent issues and used other resources to verify information. Researchers noted that the study focused on patient experiences and did not prove that telenursing alone caused the reported benefits, and further research is needed to measure its clinical impact.