Study Finds ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ Skin Barriers Help Prevent Peristomal Skin Lesions in More Than 95 Percent of New Ostomates[1]

SKILLMAN, N.J., Sept. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study has found ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ highly effective at preventing peristomal skin lesions and improving peristomal skin condition in patients who have an ostomy or a "stoma", a surgically-created opening for the discharge of bodily waste.  Ostomy procedures are often conducted due to colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and bladder cancer.  

Findings from the prospective, multinational observational study evaluating the incidence of peristomal lesions and skin condition show that more than 95 percent (95.6%) of new ostomates started on ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ Skin Barriers maintained normal skin integrity for two months.   Results also show that more than 86 percent (86.2%) of ostomates with pre-existing skin disorders had improved skin within two months after switching to ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ Skin Barriers.

Patients with an ostomy wear skin barriers that are traditionally cut or sized to fit the stoma opening.  ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ Skin Barriers with Rebounding Memory Technology™ are designed to hug the stoma opening for a more custom and secure fit.

In addition, the new study confirms previous research which showed high levels of patient satisfaction with ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ Skin Barriers among new ostomates as well as existing ostomates changing from another type of barrier. Participants in the new study reported high levels of patient satisfaction in the areas of comfort, ease of molding, application and removal, reliability, and overall performance and satisfaction.

Among both groups of ostomates in the new study, more than 96 percent rated the skin barrier as excellent or good in all categories in the questionnaire (comfort, ease of preparing, ease of attaching, ease of removing, reliability and overall evaluation).  New ostomates rated the comfort of the moldable device as good or excellent by a combined percentage of 97 percent (97.2%).  Ostomates who replaced a traditional barrier with a moldable barrier rated the ease of attaching the moldable barrier as good or excellent by a combined percentage of 98 percent (98.1%).   

The results of the study were presented at the 12th Congress of the European Council of Enterostomal Therapy (ECET) in Paris, France, in June. The presentation received a 1st Place Award by the ECET Scientific Committee, recognizing its clinical relevance and quality of data and presentation.

"Patients adapting to life with an ostomy face a number of challenges, but skin complications should not have to become an issue," said lead investigator Maria Teresa Szewczyk, Associate Professor, MD, from Bydgoszcz, Poland. "Selecting a moldable technology skin barrier can prevent a cycle of leakage and skin breakdown, which can impact the patient both physically and emotionally." 

"We now have two sets of study results that not only speak to long-term patient benefits and satisfaction, but also demonstrate that moldable technology repeatedly achieves clinically significant reductions in peristomal skin issues," said Steve Bishop, Vice President of R&D at ConvaTec. "Switching to ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ Skin Barriers can improve a patient's quality of life."

ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ Skin Barriers are supported by extensive clinical experience demonstrating their ability to prevent leaks and protect peristomal skin.

Additional information about ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ Skin Barriers can be found at www.convatec.com or by calling ConvaTec customer service at 1-800-422-8811.

About the Study
This study was an evaluation of peristomal skin condition in ostomates using a ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ Skin Barrier over a two-month period. Patients enrolled in group A used the moldable barrier as the first long-term system after stoma creation, and patients in group B replaced a traditional barrier with the moldable barrier. This study was conducted in Germany, Poland and the US and received approval from local regulatory authorities.

The objectives of the study were to investigate the incidence and severity of peristomal skin lesions, the progression of peristomal skin condition and patient satisfaction levels in ostomates using a ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ Skin Barrier.

About ConvaTec
ConvaTec is a global medical products and technologies company, with leading market positions in ostomy care, wound therapeutics, continence and critical care, and infusion devices. Our products provide a range of clinical and economic benefits, including infection prevention, protection of at-risk skin, improved patient outcomes and reduced total cost of care. Our brands include AQUACEL® advanced wound dressings, which form a gel on contact with wound fluid, creating an optimal environment for wound healing.  ConvaTec has over 8,000 employees, with 11 manufacturing sites in 8 countries, and we do business in more than 100 countries.  We are owned by Nordic Capital and Avista Capital Partners.

®/™ indicates trademarks of ConvaTec Inc. 
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¹ Szewczyk, MT. OSMOSE Study: Multinational Evaluation of the Peristomal Condition in Ostomates Using Moldable Skin Barriers. Poster presented at: The Congress of the European Council of Enterostomal Therapy (ECET); June 23-26, 2013; Paris, France.

SOURCE ConvaTec