We sat down with the team at Ostique to understand the reasons why Ostique Connect came to be, and what we can expect from this exciting new platform!
What personal experience or connection do the members of Ostique have to ostomy care? Have they or someone they know gone through the process of having an ostomy?
Every one of the management team at Ostique has a very personal connection to ostomy care. In fact, the very reason that Ostique exists is because of our founder Stephanie’s two younger brothers, both of whom have Crohn’s Disease, and whose plight inspired our mission.
It is because we have such personal ties to ostomy care that we feel so strongly about providing, not just innovative products that work better and look better, but also platforms and initiatives that allow the community to share their experiences with one another.
We know how powerful and profound shared experiences can be, and how important human connection is to living a fulfilled life, and it is a privilege to be able to facilitate this through initiatives like Ostique Connect.
If you would like to take part in this six month trial, please click here to apply before the end of December 2023!
What challenges or frustrations did you identify within the current landscape of ostomy care? Were there any gaps in the technology or resources available to individuals with ostomies?
We have the pleasure of speaking with a real cross-section of people involved in ostomy care day in, day out; from members of the ostomate community, to stoma nurses, consultants, trusts, hospitals and more. Initiatives like our podcast, “Chatting Sh*t with Ostique”, as well as our social media platforms, events and website blogs, allow us to have long-form conversations with hundreds of people a month, and therefore provide us with a really great understanding of what is working well - and not so well - for the community currently.
Through all of our conversations, one issue in particular has become really clear - that the feelings of isolation and loneliness that a huge proportion of ostomates suffer following stoma surgery is a critical issue that needs to be addressed.
The current solutions in place, such as in-person and online support groups, are wonderful. However, they don’t take place that frequently (which can be problematic for tackling regular feelings of isolation), are set up for group conversations rather than one to one (which makes sharing intimate concerns tricky), and generally provide a one-size-fits-all approach (when we know how nuanced stoma experience can be).
It therefore became apparent to us that what is really needed, in addition to what is currently available, is a central place that ostomates can come to, to easily find other ostomates who have been through similar journeys and experiences, and create meaningful connections with them for 1:1 peer support.
When we couldn’t find something like this out there, we decided to create it ourselves - and that is how Ostique Connect came to be.
If you would like to take part in this six month trial, please click here to apply before the end of December 2023!
What impact do you hope the app will have on the lives of individuals with ostomies? Are there specific goals or outcomes you hope to achieve through its use?
Our hope for Ostique Connect is that it tackles isolation and loneliness head on, and improves the overall quality of life of all ostomates as a result.
We can’t imagine anyone better placed to provide support, advice based on personal experience and, most importantly, hope during difficult times, than someone who has been on the same journey already. That is what Ostique Connect hopes to provide each and every user.
If you would like to take part in this six month trial, please click here to apply before the end of December 2023!
How did you ensure that the app was user-friendly and met the needs of individuals with ostomies?
The Ostique Connect app has been in development for several months now, and we have optimised it continuously to ensure the best possible user experience.
We have taken steps to ensure that the safety, privacy and security of our users is paramount. All of the messages sent within Ostique Connect are end-to-end encrypted, so that users can feel safe when talking about sensitive subjects. There is also a reporting feature inside every chat, so that if there is any misuse of the platform or community guidelines are not respected, the admin team can be notified immediately.
The reason why we are doing a 6 month trial before launching the app worldwide, is so that we can get feedback from hundreds of ostomate users to ensure that the app is the best it possibly can be before official launch.
If you would like to take part in this six month trial, please click here to apply before the end of December 2023!
What are you most excited about for the future of the app?
We are so excited to see the platform out in the world next year, after months of development!
This is a cause that we feel extremely strongly about and we really believe that Ostique Connect will change lives for the better.
We will continue to work hard on behalf of the ostomy community to create products and services that enhance quality of life - and we hope that Ostique Connect will serve as a key pillar in achieving this.
If you would like to take part in this six month trial, please click here to apply before the end of December 2023!