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Indwelling Urethral Catheter Self-Care Preparedness Among Hospitalised Patients In Nigeria


Agnes Anarado

Abstract

Aim: To ascertain the extent nurses have prepared hospitalised patients in catheter self-care.


Methods and Materials: A purposive sample of 30 hospitalised patients on indwelling urethral catheter was interviewed using resarcher-development instrument.


Results: The subjects, a group of trauma patients with spinal cord injury and/or fractured limbs/pelvis were mostly long term catheter users. Only two subjects could assume total catheter self-care, while most(86.7%) could just initiate measures to ensure high fluid intake. All the subjects reported using nurses and non-professionals for their catheter care. Although most subjects (90%) perceived health education on catheter care as a nursing duty, they received minimal, vague or no instructions from them.


Conclusion: These subjects were not properly assessed and assigned appropriate systems of nursing care. Nurses need to be clear about the content of their patient teaching in catheter care and assume full responsibility in teaching them.


Key words: Indwelling urethral catheter, Self-care, Preparedness.


[Jnl of College of Medicine Vol.7(1) 2002: 18-20]

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eISSN: 1118-2601