Barriers, complications, adherence, and self-reported quality of life for people using clean intermittent...

To examine barriers, complications, adherence, and health-related quality of life in people using clean intermittent catheterization (CIC).

This pilot study used a cross-sectional, survey design.

Forty-four community-dwelling men and women who had been using CIC for 2 or more months participated in the study.

Participants were mailed the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and a sociodemographic survey instrument to complete and mail back to the study office. Upon receipt of the completed forms, the participant was called to complete the investigator-developed instrument to collect the data related to every-day barriers, complications, and physician recommendations regarding the use of CIC.

The mean age of the sample was 56.6 ± 16.0 years (mean ± SD); 59% were women, and 93% were whites. The mean SF-36 physical component score was 33.60 ± 12.4, while the mean mental component score was 50.26 ± 13.9. Twenty participants (45.5%) reported that they did not void at all on their own. The median duration of using CIC was 60 months. Twenty-five participants (56%) reused catheters a median of 20 times. The most common complication was urinary tract infection (n = 34; 77.2%). The most common difficulties associated with self-catheterization were lack of access to a bathroom (n = 15; 34%); for women it was positioning to insert the catheter (n = 11; 25%) and dexterity (n = 9; 21%) reported by people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Although most participants reported catheterizing on their own schedule (n = 18, 40.9%) or in response to bladder fullness (n = 24; 54.5%), 84.6% reported a catheterization schedule co ge their bladder.

While the physical component SF-36 score in this sample was lower, the mental health component score was similar to the population norm for the age group. The most common complication of CIC was urinary tract infection and the most frequent catheterization difficulties were lack of access to a bathroom (34%) and positioning to insert the catheter (25%).