Coping with clean intermittent catherization – experiences from a patient perspective

Abstract

Poor bladder emptying is a well-known phenomenon in urology which increases the risk of urinary tract infection. Thus, it is important to insure effective bladder emptying for the patient. This may be performed by emptying the bladder intermittently by means of a disposable catheter. The method is called clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). The purpose of CIC is, apart from the scientific reasons, to give patients the opportunity to live the life they did prior to experiencing problems with bladder emptying. In our view, a large number of patients do not cope with their new life with CIC in spite of learning programmes and written guidance. The aim of this study was to develop knowledge about how patients experience having to empty their bladder by using a disposable catheter for the rest of their lives. Knowledge nurses could be used to improve the quality of the procedure for CIC training. Furthermore this study also helps in investigating the strategies used by the patients used to master CIC in order to improve the organization of training in the future. The research design was qualitative and took a phenomenological hermeneutic approach. The data were based on interviews with eight patients using CIC. The results suggested that need to perform CIC for the rest of one's life resulted in a traumatic crisis which could be experienced to be more or less stressful. Situations were mastered employing strategies which could either be problem- or emotion-focused. These strategies aimed, respectively, at solving the problem or at reducing the unpleasant feelings connected with the situation.