Volume 45 Number 3
World Ostomy Day
Jenny Prentice
For referencing Prentice J. World Ostomy Day. WCET® Journal 2025;45(3):7.
DOI 10.33235/wcet.45.3.7
World Ostomy Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in October every three years, the next being Saturday 4 October 2025 with the motto ‘Invisible Disabilities: Visible Support – The Global Unity of Ostomates’. The theme brings light to uncover the invisible ostomy and create visible support. Fostering conversation, global awareness and ensuring equity for our communities around the world.
The idea of the World Ostomy Day was established in 1993 by Professor Dr Gerhard Englert, who at that time was President of the International Ostomy Association. The purpose of the day was to raise public awareness of the condition and improve the quality of life for people living with a stoma.
In the intervening years, the day is recognised as Ostomy Awareness Day but carries the same motto.
WCET® has now created a logo to show its support in raising the awareness of ostomates around the world.
And in our journal this month, articles really do come from around the world.
Marady Pereira et al (Brazil) detail the results of a scoping review conducted to explore issues related to variations in clinical descriptors used to identify or classify diabetic foot ulcer recurrence (DFUR). The review identified a lack of consensus in defining DFUR and consequently variations in statistics related to the incidence of DFUR after the initial diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) healed and further occurrences of DFU. The authors recommend greater adherence to or adoption of The International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) definition of DFUR, which says “a new ulcer in the patient with a history of ulceration, regardless of the location and time since the previous ulcer on the foot”.1 This, they propose, would improve communication between clinicians and researchers and improve patient outcomes.
Wee Ting Goh et al (Singapore) relate a case study of a patient with a recurrent Venous Leg Ulcer (VLU) to demonstrate the effectiveness of a Bioelectric Dressing (BED) as an adjunct to standard care in reducing biofilm and bacterial bioburden within recalcitrant VLUs to accelerate wound healing. The BED dressing used was a single-layer polyester dressing with a matrix of silver and zinc dots printed on one side that generated low-voltage electricity through the interactions of silver (Ag+) and zinc (Zn+) ions when in contact with moisture from wound exudate.
In the first of a series of articles we’ll be publishing on peristomal skin complications (PSCs), Adrian Defante (USA) reviews the evolution of hydrocolloid skin barriers (HSBs), which made such a profound difference to the quality of life of people with stomas by reducing the incidence and severity of PSCs. While the article is quite technical in nature, its purpose is to assist clinicians to understand the composition and fluid handling capabilities of HSBs that contain super-absorbent polymers (SAPs). Enhanced understanding of the role of SAPs may make selecting the correct HSB to best cater for stomal output and skin protection easier.
Mengmeng Zhang et al (China) describe the management of challenging extensive severely infected complex bipedal diabetic foot ulcers in an unemployed 47-year-old male. Using a multidisciplinary team approach and the use of lipid hydrocolloid foam dressings combined with negative pressure wound therapy, it resulted in complete wound healing thereby avoiding the potential for bilateral amputation of the feet. Three-year follow-up identified no recurrent ulcerations.
A call for papers for publication within the WCET® Journal appears on page 44. I encourage all members of WCET® to submit an article to the journal; a case study template can be downloaded from the online journal platform at https://journals.cambridgemedia.com.au/wcetcn/journal-information/test. First time authors can be mentored through writing and publication processes and will also qualify for the new Elizabeth A Ayello First Time Author Award. The author guidelines are included immediately after the call for papers to help all authors through the submission process.
By sharing our expertise through publication, we are, as ET’s/WOCNs/Stomal Therapists, demonstrating our visible support globally for those living with a stoma.
With kind regards
Jenny
世界造口日
Jenny Prentice
DOI: 10.33235/wcet.45.3.7
每三年的十月第一个星期六，我们共同迎来属于全球造口群体的节日Å\Å\世界造口日。2025年10月4日，我们再次携手，以全新的主题Å\Å\“隐藏的挑战·可见的关爱”凝聚全球力量，点亮每一位造口者的生命之光。这一天，不只是一个纪念的时刻，更是一场心与心的共鸣。我们希望通过这次活动，让“被衣物遮掩的造口”被看见，让“看不见的困难”被理解，让“关爱与支持”成为世界的共同语言。无论你身在何处，只要你关心造口群体，你都是这份全球温暖的一部分。
世界造口日的倡议源自1993年，由时任国际造口协会（IOA）主席Gerhard Englert教授博士首次发起。他的初心简单而坚定：提升公众对造口的认知，改善造口人士的生活质量。
三十余年来，这一倡议已成长为跨越语言与文化的全球性行动Å\Å\无论称之为“世界造口日”或“造口意识日”，它始终承载着一个共同的信念：让每一位造口者，都能被理解、被尊重、被拥抱。
今年，WCET®特别推出了纪念标识，以此表达对全球造口群体的深切支持与致敬，并持续呼吁：让“关爱”不止于一天，让“支持”成为日常。
在本期《WCET® Journal》中，文章汇聚了来自世界各地的研究与洞见。
来自巴西的Marady Pereira等学者在本期分享了一项范围性综述的最新成果，聚焦于糖尿病足溃疡复发（DFUR）在临床术语定义上的差异问题。该研究揭示，目前在DFUR的界定方面仍缺乏全球共识，因此不同研究在报告糖尿病足溃疡（DFU）初次愈合后的复发发生率时存在显著差异。研究团队建议应更加重视并遵循国际糖尿病足工作组（IWGDF）提出的DFUR定义，即：“在既往有溃疡病史的患者中出现新的溃疡，不论溃疡发生的部位或与前次溃疡的间隔时间”。1作者指出，采用统一的定义不仅能促进临床医生与研究者之间的有效沟通，从而改善患者的整体预后。
来自新加坡的Wee Ting Goh等人报告了一例复发性静脉性下肢溃疡（VLU）患者的病例研究，以展示生物电敷料（BED）作为标准治疗辅助手段的潜在价值。研究显示，该敷料在减少顽固性VLU中的生物膜与细菌负荷、促进创面愈合方面具有良好效果。研究中使用的BED为单层聚酯基质敷料，其一侧印有由银（Ag+）与锌（Zn+）离子点阵。当敷料与创面渗出液接触时，金属离子相互作用会产生低电压电流，从而形成一种有助于抑制微生物并促进组织修复的电生理环境。
与此同时，在我们即将推出的造口周围皮肤并发症（PSC）系列文章中，来自美国的Adrian Defante回顾了水胶体造口底盘（HSB）的演进历程。这一创新性材料通过显著降低PSC的发生率与严重程度，极大地改善了造口人群的生活质量。尽管文章内容较为技术性，其目的在于帮助临床医护人员深入理解含高吸水性聚合物（SAP）的HSB配方及其液体管理机制。作者指出，深入了解SAP的作用机理，有助于临床更精准地为不同造口排泄物特征与皮肤保护需求选择最适宜的HSB。
来自中国的Mengmeng Zhang等人报道了一例复杂且严重感染的双足糖尿病足溃疡病例。患者为一名47岁的失业男性，病情广泛且极具挑战性。通过多学科团队（MDT）协作，并联合使用脂质水胶体泡沫敷料与负压创面治疗（NPWT），团队最终实现了创面完全愈合，成功避免了双足截肢的风险。三年随访显示，患者未再出现新的溃疡复发。
本期《WCET® Journal》末尾刊登了征稿启事。我们诚挚邀请所有WCET®成员积极投稿，分享宝贵的临床经验与学术见解。病例研究模板可通过期刊线上平台下载：https://journals.cambridgemedia.com.au/wcetcn/journal-information/test。首次投稿的作者将获得导师在写作与发表过程中的全程指导，并有机会角逐全新设立的Elizabeth A. Ayello首次作者奖。为方便投稿，征稿启事后即附有作者投稿指南，欢迎查阅。
通过持续分享我们的专业与经验，我们Å\Å\造口治疗师、伤口/造口/失禁护理专家以及造口治疗护士Å\Å\正以行动践行“可见的关爱”，在全球范围内为造口群体发声。
谨致问候
Jenny
Author(s)
Jenny Prentice
PhD BN RN STN FAWMA
References
- Schaper NC, van Netten JJ, Apelqvist J, Bus SA, Hinchliffe RJ, Lipsky BA, et al. IWGDF Guidelines on the prevention and management of diabetic foot disease. IWGDF; 2023. Available from: https://iwgdfguidelines.org/guidelines/
