CATHETER CARE

Creation of Catheter Instructional Material for Bilingual Population

Creation of Catheter Instructional Material for Bilingual Population

Project Summary

There are many patients in the Urology Department at UTMB who need assistance with the use and maintenance of catheters. This project aimed at developing and designing catheter instructional material for increasing the knowledge and capabilities of bilingual population, English and Spanish, in conjunction with national clearinghouses of medical information. Brochure was distributed to 90 patients through staff people. 70 people experienced no problem in understanding the material, whereas 13 people had minor or significant problem.

Introduction

This project explores the fundamentals of Catheterization and the show does knowledge of people about the Catheterization process can help them in avoiding the possible complications. Increasing number of cases associated with the complications of Urology equipment handling increased the need to enhance the knowledge of people about the catheterization, Indications for urinary catheterization, precautions, and possible complications. This project was conducted to examine how creation of catheter instructional material for a bilingual population enhances their capability to deal properly with the catheter materials/equipments.

Catheterization

Catheterization or catheterization is a technique that involves inserting a catheter through the urethra into the bladder. This enables free flow of urine directly from the bladder to the collecting tubes (Irwin, 2008). Urinary catheters are sometimes recommended as a way to manage urinary incontinence and urinary retention in both men and women. There are different types of catheters that can be used for a variety of different reasons. Catheters differ in materials (latex, silicone etc.), sizes, and types that include Foley catheter, straight catheter, suprapubic catheter, central venous catheters, or angled tip catheter) (Salam, 2003). Experts recommend the use of smaller catheters. However, some people require larger catheters for urine leakage control or in cases when urine is thick or contains large amounts of sediment (Gillenwater, 2002).

Purpose of Catheterization

The goals of bladder catheterization include both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Diagnostic purposes include obtaining urine samples, exploration urethral, or bladder, determination of residual urine, and controlling urine retention in bladder (Gillenwater, 2002). However, therapeutic purposes include relieving acute or chronic urinary retention, treating patients having problems in bladder, administration of intravascular therapies and patients with neurogenic bladder, control of dieresis, prevention of pelvic stress injuries and / or abdominal pain due to distension of the bladder, to allow for faster healing of bedsores in incontinent patients, and joining catheter with body for a temporary period after prostate, urethra, bladder, or abdominal surgeries (Glick, 2000; Irwin, 2008).

Suprapubic Catheters

A suprapubic catheter is an indwelling catheter that is placed directly into the bladder through the abdomen. It should only be placed by an expert urologist through an outpatient surgery (Salam, 2003). The insertion site (opening in the abdomen) and the tube must be cleansed daily with soap and water and covered with dry gauze.

Foley Catheters

Foley catheter is a thin, flexible, and a soft plastic tube that is inserted into the bladder through the urethra for urine drainage, when person is not able to empty bladder on his ...