Development of a Computer Application Used by Visiting Nurses, Physicians, and Patients/Caregivers to Prevent Indwelling Urinary Catheter Occlusion in the Community.

This study aimed to develop a computer application (software) for use by visiting nurses, physicians, and patients/caregivers, to support their care of long-term indwelling urinary catheters in the community. Development of this application involved: (1) confirmation of the intended purpose, users, and application construction; (2) establishment of the functional requirements for data sharing and communication among visiting nurses, physicians, and patients/caregivers; (3) design of three constituent "versions" of the application to be used by visiting nurses, physicians, and patients/caregivers, respectively; and (4) testing of the data sharing and communication functions. The application was designed to facilitate the prevention, assessment, and response to occlusion of indwelling urinary catheters during long-term use at home. This application is characterized by: (1) a unique design of three application "versions" that each reflect the specific care roles of its respective user group; (2) data sharing among the three groups according to their respective roles; and (3) the inclusion of caregivers as users. This article proposes a model that can inform the design of future applications for nursing professionals and patients and caregivers and provide a basis for future research on the development of healthcare applications supporting improvements in care.

[The anxiety and types of problems encountered by homecare patients during an intermittent self-catheterization].

The aim of this study was to clarify why a homecare patient had an anxiety and the type of difficulties while having an intermittent self-catheterization at home. We used a questionnaire survey to conduct an oral interview for 25 homecare patients, who regularly had an intermittent self-catheterization. The survey results were codified into single phrase units of meaning, and then separated into categories. The results revealed that 70 to 80% of patients who had an intermittent self catheterization in their own homes experienced an anxiety and encountered difficulties during the process. The findings emphasized the importance of providing a sort of support for homecare patients when they have an intermittent self-catheterization for the first time, as well as the importance of providing continued support until the patients are comfortable with the procedure. For a future support, these patients' anxiety need to be reduced and difficulties related to an intermittent self catheterization resolved during an outpatient visit.

[Self purchase of catheter supplies and the hardship associated with urinary homecare patients].

The aim of our study was to clarify how catheter products are purchased by urinary homecare patients and to find problems associated with such purchases. We conducted a survey using a self-made questionnaire for 26 catheterized patients from Prefecture A, who were regular outpatients of the urology department. The results indicated that 17 patients(65. 4%)purchased catheter supplies on their own(13 males and 4 females, the mean age was 57. 9 years). The products purchased by the 26 patients were diverse including urine bags, syringes, catheters and tissues paper. Seven of the 17 patients(41%)responded that purchasing catheter supplies on their own was difficult, and 8(47%)responded that purchasing catheter supplies was an economic burden for them. The cost of purchasing catheter supplies varied greatly among the patients, and the price range was from 400 yen to 12, 000 yen. The cost was generally associated with the feelings of economic stress: it happens every month; it is a burden for some patients who need them for life time.

[A study of the goods supply system from hospital to outpatients with intermittent self-catheterization(ISC)].

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the current status of goods supplied by medical facilities to outpatients practicing ISC. METHODS: The status of goods supplied was investigated by interviewing 4 medical facilities and 26 outpatients practicing ISC, using a questionnaire. RESULTS: 1. Of all goods supplied for use by outpatients practicing ISC, 53. 0%were supplied by medical facilities. The outpatients bought some goods required for ISC by himself. Moreover, some goods were supplied by prescription. 2. When a hospital was consulted, while there were those to whom goods are not supplied from a hospital, there were those to whom much kinds and quantity are supplied from the hospital. As for the patient to whom many kinds and the goods of quantity are supplied, goods expense formed about 70% of ISC administration fee. DISCUSSION: In order to establish goods feed system, it was necessary to examine a common knowledge of the structure of goods supply to doctors or nurses and the validity of the ISC administration fee system from now on.

[Issues involved with supply of medical and hygienic materials to home care patients].

Questionnaires were mailed to doctors and nurses who are involved in home care to survey their observations on medical and hygienic materials and its supply to home care patients. Some of the survey items, such as problems encountered frequently, areas where an improvement was needed most and concerns that are often raised in suppling of medical and hygienic materials for home care patients, were analyzed by the Berelson's content analysis method to observe problems in suppling adequate medical and hygienic materials. As a result, 5 categories and 17 subcategories were formed. The recognized future issues were: policies concerning support extended to medical organizations and disseminate information of the system, which medical and hygienic materials supplied to home care patients.