A qualitative study on the perceptions of patients with urethral stricture

Abstract

Background: Urethral stricture means narrowing of the urethra and is caused due to injury, instrumentation, infection etc. In as much as urethral stricture is a highly disabling condition and is common in our places, it definitely plays an important role in a sufferer daily life. In our project, we have ventured a qualitative study of perceptions and actual impositions on the life of patients suffering from chronic urethral stricture.Methods: The study was one of qualitative descriptive type involving in depth interviews (IDI) of 18 male patients of Urethral stricture who were diagnosed and treated at IPGMER.Results: The results showed that the IDIs could be divided into several categories each of which is further divided into several codes. The categories are given here with codes in parenthesis. Catheter related problems (leakage, block, physical problems, change, availability, health personnel, dress change, smell of urine, water drinking), disturbance of sleep (initiation, awakening, disturbance of bed partner, sleepless night), Role of family members (care giving, attitude, negligence), financial condition (jobless, help from friends, support, reversal of role, family crisis), social life (activity, enjoyment, getting hurt), mental health (loneliness, helplessness, sadness, getting hope) and sexual life (urge, erection, coital pain , discomfort).Conclusions: The major findings were that most of the patients had very good co-operation and care from the family; financial assistance was also obtained from family and friends. Majority of the patients were hopeful that they would be totally cured in near future.