Jérémie H. Lefèvre

Aim A stoma exposes patients to several complications which could impair their quality of life (QoL). In the last decade, the market for stoma therapy in France has evolved, with a significant increase in the activities of home health providers, meeting a need for patient follow‐up and companionship. International studies have demonstrated the impact of the stoma therapist (ST) follow‐up on the improvement of an ostomy patient's QoL. However, the impact of home stoma nurse management has not been analysed. In this context we would like to assess the added value on health‐related QoL from the enhanced follow‐up of ostomy patients by STs. Methods This is a randomized, controlled, open, national and multicentre trial (12 centres) which includes patients with an ostomy who benefit from either standard follow‐up or from an enhanced and personalized follow‐up with, in particular, regular consultations with an ST after discharge. The primary end‐point is the 3‐month QoL score obtained from the Stoma‐QoL questionnaire. The secondary end‐points are satisfaction of the care, comparison of QoL scores (Stoma‐QoL and EuroQuol EQ‐5D) and the economic gains by calculating the consumption of resources between the two arms. There will be a modified intention‐to‐treat analysis with 6‐month follow‐up in both study arms. Discussion The StomaCare trial will be the first randomized controlled study in France to evaluate the impact on QoL of an enhanced follow‐up at home of ostomy patients by an ST.