Intermittent urethral catheterization-descriptive study at a Brazilian service.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The rehabilitation process of patients with neurogenic bladder involves psychosocial, cultural, political and economic human factors, representing a challenge for patients/caregivers as well as health professionals. This study was aimed at characterizing patients with neurogenic bladder who use intermittent urethral catheterization and were going through rehabilitation at a teaching hospital. METHOD: This descriptive study was undertaken in the interior of São Paulo State-Brazil. All ethical guidelines were complied with. To collect the data, interviews were held during nursing consultations with patients more than 18years of age suffering from neurogenic bladder who used intermittent urethral catheterization. RESULTS: Most patients had spinal cord trauma, are single, male and gain a low income. They have been using catheterization for several years, at irregular frequencies, using polyethylene catheters. CONCLUSIONS: No standardization exists in the accomplishment of the practices used and strategies are needed to remodel the service.

Intermittent Urinary Catheterization: The Impact of Training on a Low-Fidelity Simulator on the Self-Confidence of Patients and Caregivers.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify how training on a low-fidelity simulator impacts the confidence of caregivers and patients with neurogenic bladder who use clean intermittent urinary catheterization. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study. METHODS: Developed in a rehabilitation center in Brazil including patients who use clean intermittent urinary catheterization and caregivers from September to November 2013. After Ethics approval (Opinion 146/2012) during the nursing consultation, data were collected before and after training on a low-fidelity simulator. FINDINGS: A total of 36 respondents (72.0%) patients and 14 (28.0%) caregivers participated. The self-confidence acquired after training on low-fidelity simulators was significant. CONCLUSIONS: In this study sample, low-fidelity simulation was demonstrated to be an effective strategy for the development of self-confidence. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Low-fidelity simulation training enables patients and caregivers to increase their self-confidence when performing clean intermittent urinary catheterization and should be used as a training strategy by healthcare professionals.