Assessment of the Quality of a Health Care Service for People with Ostomies in Northeast Brazil

Background: To evaluate the quality of health care services for people with stomas in a capital city in Northeast Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, documentary study that evaluated indicators and criteria related to the structure, process, and results of the main referral unit of the Health Care Service for People with Stoma (SASPO) in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The study was developed in two phases and was conducted between September 2022 and April 2023. Results: The structural assessment revealed that the service's physical infrastructure and human resources do not meet the Ordinance's criteria, including the absence of a nurse specializing in stoma therapy on the minimum staff; regarding the process, the activities carried out do not fully comply with the determining guidelines. However, the final evaluation indicated an overwhelming degree of implementation (63.75%). Conclusion: The Health Care Service for People with Ostomies at the Rehabilitation and Specialized Care Center in Natal does not fully comply with Ordinance No. 400/2009. Their main activities are related to the dispensing of materials and individual consultations, and their infrastructure is not entirely adequate. User satisfaction is based on the services they are familiar with and is limited to individual guidance and ease of care.