Patients' experiences of learning clean intermittent self-catheterization: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Patient Care
• Health Education

Background:

• Clean intermittent self-catheterization presents significant physical and emotional challenges for users.
• While safety and complications are studied, the learning and performance aspects from a user perspective are under-addressed.
• Existing user insights are limited to audits and anecdotal reports.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore patient experiences learning clean intermittent self-catheterization.
• To understand user perspectives on healthcare service provision during catheterization training.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing in-depth interviews.
• Grounded theory framework applied to interview data.
• Interviews conducted with 15 adult patients (33-81 years) undergoing self-catheterization.

Main Results:

• Identified key themes: psychological issues, physical challenges, and healthcare service interactions.
• Effective nurse communication skills significantly facilitated the learning process.
• A friendly, relaxed approach by nurses reduced patient anxiety and improved information retention.

Conclusions:

• Empowering patients with adequate information and thorough instruction promotes treatment mastery and adherence.
• Effective patient education contributes to long-term urinary tract health.
• Development of evidence-based policies and consistent teaching programs for self-catheterization is recommended.