Prescribing for patients with a stoma: common concerns and care

A person with a stoma requires a variety of medications and products for stoma care, as well as guidance to manage any complications. Living with a stoma also comes with an array of psychological consequences and needs, meaning a person's mental health and quality of life will also need to be considered.

Therefore, from a pharmaceutical perspective, a patient's needs are potentially vast. Giving the patient an understanding of stoma care and their choices in terms of their appliances and medications can empower the patient to not only feel more independent but also hopeful about finding the product that best suits their needs. It also helps them to feel confident in their health professionals and prescribers when they are informed when it comes to what products and medications are required for managing their stoma.

About 100 000 people in the UK are currently living with an intestinal stoma, often formed following cancer surgery or surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (Strong et al, 2021). The stoma can be temporary or permanent, and is formed from the small or large bowel. There are many different types of stoma, and the type of stoma can affect how common particular complications are and the indicators of those complications.