ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Clean intermittent self-catheterization is the recommended mode of bladder voiding in patients with urinary retention. Hence, this procedure should be well known and understood by the general practitioners (GP) who are responsible for monitoring such patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess GP' state of knowledge regarding clean intermittent self-catheterization and to make recommendations for dealing with problems that occur during patient follow-up. METHOD: A questionnaire focusing on the practice of clean intermittent catheterization was sent to 910 family GP in the Franche-Comté region of eastern France. RESULTS: Two hundred and fourty-six replies were analyzed. Sixty-four percent of GP believed that the appropriate number of bladder catheterizations per day was between two and four. Ninety percent of the GP prescribed perineal cleaning before catheterization and 29% prescribed the use of sterile gloves. Eighty-seven percent of general practitioners considered urinary tract infection to be the main complication of intermittent catheterization. Thirty percent always requested a urine culture in patients performing self-catheterization and 29% prescribed antibiotic therapy in cases of bladder colonization. DISCUSSION: General practitioners need to receive additional information on the role of clean intermittent catheterization in the prevention of urinary tract infection. In accordance with the French Urology Association guidelines, we produced a practical summary guide on preventing asymptomatic bacteriuria and urinary tract infections and/or preparing for urological investigations.