Psychological morbidity in catheterized prostate‐enlarged men in a Nigerian hospital

Abstract

This paper describes a cross‐sectional study investigating the level of psychological morbidity occasioned by long‐term indwelling urethral catheters among men with a clinical diagnosis of an enlarged prostate gland. A survey of 100 purposely selected men who had experienced catheterization for a minimum of 2 weeks was conducted. The tool used was the short version of the general health questionnaire (GHQ‐12), which measures psychological morbidity in individuals. These men were attending the urology clinic at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. The length of time participants had a catheter in situ was correlated with respondents' score on the GHQ‐12. Results supported the hypothesis that lengthy periods of catheterization are associated with depressive symptoms, particularly in the early period of catheterization (0–9 months). Thirty‐two percent of the sample scored above the threshold value of 5 on the GHQ‐12, denoting psychological morbidity. Findings also suggested that men in the early stage of catheterization are high‐yield targets for psychological intervention; therefore, nurses must be sensitive to the emotional impact of catheterization and consider the mental health of individuals within the holistic framework. There is the need for emphasis on individualized assessment of urological patients for appropriate interventions and the provision of quality nursing care.