THE ROLE OF THE ENTEROSTOMAL THERAPY NURSE IN PATIENT SAFETY AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CHRONIC WOUND TREATMENT: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: Enterostomal therapy is a nursing specialty dedicated to the care of patients with stomas, wounds, skin lesions, and incontinence, playing a significant role in promoting patient safety and treatment effectiveness. Chronic wounds represent a major public health issue due to their prolonged healing time, high rate of recurring complications, and the physical, emotional, and social impacts they impose on affected individuals. In this context, the role of the enterostomal therapist nurse is crucial for the specialized management of such lesions, contributing to the prevention of complications, the promotion of healing, and the improvement of patients' quality of life. Objective: To analyze scientific evidence regarding the role of the enterostomal therapist nurse in ensuring patient safety and the effectiveness of chronic wound treatment. Methodology: This is an integrative literature review, conducted through the following stages: identification of the topic and formulation of the guiding research question; definition of inclusion and exclusion criteria; literature search; categorization and analysis of selected studies; interpretation of results; and presentation of the review. The guiding research question is: "What scientific evidence demonstrates the contributions of the enterostomal therapist nurse to patient safety and clinical outcomes in the treatment of chronic wounds?" Data collection will be performed using the following databases: Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Virtual Health Library (VHL/BVS), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), and the Nursing Database (BDENF). The Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) used will be "Enterostomal Therapy," "Wounds and Injuries," "Patient Safety," and "Nursing," combined with the Boolean operators AND and OR. Articles published between 2015 and 2025, available free of charge in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, will be included. Expected results: The aim is to identify scientific evidence demonstrating the relevance of the enterostomal therapist nurse’s role in preventing complications, promoting patient safety, ensuring treatment effectiveness, and improving the quality of life for individuals with chronic wounds and lesions. Furthermore, this work is expected to contribute to strengthening evidence-based clinical practice and enhancing the quality of specialized nursing care.