Patient Support Program and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Patients Using Clean Intermittent Catheterization for...

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Chronic Care Management
• Patient Self-Management

Background:

• Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) is essential for managing various urological conditions.
• Initiating CIC can lead to significant complications, including emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations.
• Effective patient support is crucial for successful CIC self-management and reducing adverse events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a patient-centered chronic care self-management support program for CIC on ED visits and hospitalizations within 30 days of initiation.
• To compare catheter reuse, adherence to prescribed CIC frequency, and reasons for nonadherence between supported and unsupported patients.

Main Methods:

• A correlational survey design was employed with 445 eligible respondents.
• Respondents were divided into two groups: 321 in a CIC support program and 124 in a comparison group.
• Data were collected via a 37-item online questionnaire, with chi-square and regression analyses used for comparisons.

Main Results:

• Patients in the CIC support program experienced a 47% reduction in ED visits and a 77% decrease in hospital overnight stays within the first month.
• Adherence to the healthcare provider-instructed frequency of CIC use was higher in the support program group (88% vs. 80%).
• These benefits were observed while controlling for various demographic and clinical factors.

Conclusions:

• The initial month of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) presents a significant burden of potential complications.
• A patient-centered chronic care self-management program for CIC is associated with reduced ED visits and hospitalizations.
• Such programs demonstrably improve adherence to prescribed CIC frequency, enhancing patient outcomes.