Current status of long-term indwelling urinary catheter management by visiting nurses
ABSTRACT
Patients with indwelling catheters at home are more likely to receive home-visit nursing care. However, the condition of patients with indwelling catheters among those receiving home-visit nursing care, as well as the actual status of catheter management practised by visiting nurses, has not been studied. The aim of this study was to study the condition of long-term indwelling urinary catheter users receiving home-visit nursing care and the status of catheter management by visiting nurses. Thirty visiting nurses with experience in home-visit nursing care for patients with long-term indwelling catheters participated in this study. The questionnaire covered (1) attributes of visiting nurses, (2) the condition of indwelling catheter users, and (3) the state of implementation of catheter management by visiting nurses and difficulties experienced.
It was found that patients receiving home-visit nursing care had used indwelling catheters for a prolonged period for both disease management and other reasons, and they developed various abnormal symptoms and complications such as urinary tract infection. A high percentage of visiting nurses implemented all the items of observation, practice, guidance and cooperation in catheter management. Items of catheter management that caused difficulty for visiting nurses included detection of urinary tract infection or other complications, catheter insertion, obtaining catheter replacement supplies, encouraging ingestion of water and cooperation with physicians. This study concludes by throwing light on the condition of long-term indwelling urinary catheter users receiving home-visit nursing care, and the status of catheter management by visiting nurses.
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