Intermittent urethral catheterization—descriptive study at a Brazilian service Alessandra Mazzo, RN, PhD a, 1 , Valtuir D. Souza-Junior, RN a, 1 , Beatriz M. Jorge, RN a, 1 , Aline Nassif, BSN a, 1 , Cintia F.B. Biaziolo, RN b, 2 , Marcelo F. Cassini, MD, PhD b, 2 , Raquel C.R. Santos, RN b, 2 , Isabel Amélia Costa Mendes, RN, PhD a, ⁎ , 1 a University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of nursing-Brazil, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Campus Universitário - Bairro Monte Alegre Ribeirão Preto - SP – Brazil CEP: 14040–902 b Hospital das Clínicas,University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto Medical School, São Paulo-Brazil, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto - SP, CEP: 14040900 abstract article info Article history: Received 2 May 2013 Revised 21 August 2013 Accepted 14 December 2013 Available online xxxx Keywords: Health education Intermittent urethral catheterization Nursing Rehabilitation Urinary bladder neurogenic dysfunction Aims and background: The rehabilitation process of patients with neurogenic bladder involves psychosocial, cultural, political and economic human factors, representing a challenge for patients/caregivers as well as health professionals. This study was aimed at characterizing patients with neurogenic bladder who use intermittent urethral catheterization and were going through rehabilitation at a teaching hospital. Method: This descriptive study was undertaken in the interior of São Paulo State–Brazil. All ethical guidelines were complied with. To collect the data, interviews were held during nursing consultations with patients more than 18 years of age suffering from neurogenic bladder who used intermittent urethral catheterization. Results: Most patients had spinal cord trauma, are single, male and gain a low income. They have been using catheterization for several years, at irregular frequencies, using polyethylene catheters. Conclusions: No standardization exists in the accomplishment of the practices used and strategies are needed to remodel the service. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Most bladder–sphincter dysfunctions are caused by neurogenic bladder, a condition with different causes whose prognosis is related to an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. One of the main treatment alternatives used is intermittent urethral catheterization (Assis & Faro, 2011). Intermittent urethral catheterization is a method that permits periodical bladder emptying, at routine intervals, by introducing a catheter through the urethra (Mazzo et al., 2011). It can be indicated at any age, used temporary or permanently and performed in a sterile (inside health institutions) or clean (at home) manner. It is a safe resource that improves the patients' self-esteem, causes urinary re- education and favors stimuli towards spontaneous urination (Bruni et al., 2004; Furlan, Ferriani, & Gomes, 2003; Magalhães & Chiochetta, 2002; Moroóka & Faro, 2002; Vahr et al., 2013). Neurogenic bladder patients need permanent monitoring by competent professionals, who establish a relationship of care and learning, offering opportunities for greater comfort and a better quality of life. Nurses are responsible for training the caregivers and/ or patients to perform intermittent urethral catheterization, through orientations and care aimed at preventing urinary infection, managing material resources and achieving social readaptation (Assis & Faro, 2011; Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009; Moroóka & Faro, 2002; Vahr et al., 2013). Against that background, through joint efforts by nurses and physicians working at a health service and a university, a multi- professional outpatient care service was recently implemented at the rehabilitation center of a teaching hospital in the interior of São Paulo State–Brazil, to attend patients with neurogenic bladder who were going through rehabilitation and were using intermittent urethral catheterization. The service was proposed to qualify care delivery to intermittent urethral catheterization patients at the hospital, consid- ering that, until then, patients were attended in different clinical specialties and by different professionals, without any kind of planning and/or recognition of the clients and/or care and monitoring protocol. The clinic offers a multiprofessional team, including nurses, physicians, a social worker, as well as faculty members, graduate and undergraduate students in the same areas from the university. It serves to support the rehabilitation process of neurogenic bladder patients with intermittent urethral catheterization, keeping in mind the particularities of each patient and promoting self-care, the theoretical background that supports the entire study (Orem, 2001). The multiprofessional work is based on medical consultations and mainly on nurses' work. Nurses are responsible for interventions ranging from individuals consultations and procedures to educative Applied Nursing Research xxx (2014) xxx–xxx ⁎ Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: amazzo@eerp.usp.br (A. Mazzo), valtuirduarte@gmail.com (V.D. Souza-Junior), beatrizjorge@usp.br (B.M. Jorge), aline29nassiff@hotmail.com (A. Nassif), cbaccarin@hcrp.usp.br (C.F.B. Biaziolo), marcelo.cassini@globo.com (M.F. Cassini), ra.cris24@yahoo.com.br (R.C.R. Santos), iamendes@usp.br (I.A.C. Mendes). 1 Tel.: +55 16 36023469; fax: +55 16 3602–0518. 2 Tel.: +55 16 3602 1804. 0897-1897/$ – see front matter © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2013.12.002 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Applied Nursing Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apnr Please cite this article as: Mazzo, A., et al., Intermittent urethral catheterization—descriptive study at a Brazilian service, Applied Nursing Research (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2013.12.002