The world is no longer flat.

Evidence supporting clinical decision-making in the specialty of ostomy care regarding prescriptive product use has been sparse. Many clinical decisions in ostomy care have been based on either clinician experience, or from teachings and beliefs that have evolved over many years but are not based in evidence. There is now a rich and varied tapestry of evidence supporting clinicians regarding the use of convexity earlier in the patient's journey, particularly of the more compressible types (soft) convexity products. This article reviews the recent evidence concerning the use of more compressible barriers in ostomy care, a relatively newer addition to the clinician's armamentarium, for managing patients. It provides an analysis of the data that supports using these products, sooner rather than later, in achieving a more secure skin seal, and improving patient outcomes compared with using flat skin barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]