PERMANENT HEALTH EDUCATION AND MATRIX SUPPORT: CREATION OF A QUICK RESPONSE CODE AND NETWORK CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH OSTOMY
Education, Continuing; Surgical Stomas; Referral and Consultation; Biomedical Technology.
Changes in behaviors, including dietary habits, lifestyle, and environmental factors, have exacerbated imbalances in the human body, resulting in irreversible consequences. Colorectal cancer is currently the third most prevalent cancer globally. Although this condition is not the only cause of ostomy creation, it accounts for 36% of surgeries performed for this purpose. Given this reality, it is critical to comprehend the complexity of scenarios and individuals to design effective individual and collective care strategies, where comprehensive healthcare is pivotal to achieving desired patient outcomes. This study aimed to train professionals through matrix support (a collaborative interdisciplinary strategy) and develop strategies to facilitate access to necessary documents and workflows for reaching the Specialized Rehabilitation Center (CER III) in Caicó-RN, Brazil. Furthermore, it sought to report the experience of training healthcare professionals via permanent health education (PHE) strategies, emphasizing matrix support, to improve access for ostomy users to CER III in Caicó-RN. This qualitative descriptive study, structured as an experience report, was conducted in December 2024 with nurses from hospitals affiliated with the Seridó Regional Public Health Unit (IV URSAP)—specifically those working in surgical clinics at two regional hospitals—and members of the Permanent Health Education Nuclei (NEP). Three PHE workshops were conducted, covering themes such as Healthcare Networks, Matrix Support, and Ostomy Management, delivered through hybrid (remote and in-person) formats. Active learning methodologies were employed to encourage theoretical and practical discussions. Furthermore, a quick response code (QR Code) was created to streamline access and workflows for ostomy users within the healthcare network. The study underscored the importance of PHE and matrix support in hospitals and CER III in Caicó-RN, fostering systematic cross-service collaboration.