Living with a long-term, indwelling urinary catheter: catheter users' experience

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Qualitative Health Research
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Long-term urinary catheterization affects a diverse patient population.
• Understanding user experiences is crucial for improving care and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of long-term urinary catheter users.
• To identify the challenges and adaptations associated with continuous catheter use.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interpretive description approach.
• Semi-structured interviews with 27 community-dwelling long-term catheter users (male and female, urethral and suprapubic).
• Thematic analysis of transcribed interviews.

Main Results:

• Eight key themes emerged: adjustments, managing life outside home, nighttime routines, catheter issues, social interactions, support systems, unpredictability, and intimacy/body image.
• Users developed varied coping strategies, from self-reliance to resignation.
• Catheterization led to both increased freedom and life restrictions for different individuals.

Conclusions:

• The experience of long-term catheterization is multifaceted and influenced by individual factors and support.
• Adaptation strategies and perceived outcomes (freedom vs. restriction) differ significantly among users.
• Further research should focus on tailored support for long-term catheter users.