Current Status of Clean Intermittent Catheterization Education in South Korea

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Patient Education
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) is a crucial self-care technique for bladder management.
• High-quality patient education is essential for successful CIC implementation.
• Current educational practices for CIC in South Korea require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current status of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) education provided by healthcare professionals in South Korea.
• To identify barriers and challenges faced by clinicians in delivering effective CIC education.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous online survey was distributed to nurses and clinicians performing urodynamic tests in South Korean hospitals.
• The survey collected data on the circumstances, resources, and time allocated for CIC education.
• Data were analyzed from 93 respondents across 60 institutions.

Main Results:

• Most CIC education occurs in urodynamic testing rooms, with dedicated private spaces available in less than 3% of cases.
• Catheter company materials were most common (50%), followed by hospital-specific resources (30%); no formal association materials exist.
• Clinicians reported significant time constraints (mean 11-30 minutes per session) and lack of adequate space, hindering patient understanding.

Conclusions:

• Lack of dedicated time and appropriate space are major obstacles to effective CIC patient education.
• Limited national health insurance coverage for single-use catheters restricts optimal catheter choice.
• Improvements in educational infrastructure and insurance policies are needed to enhance CIC patient outcomes.