An exploration of men's experiences of learning intermittent self-catheterisation with a silicone catheter

Urinary catheters are commonly employed in healthcare and have been used to drain poorly emptying bladders for 3500 years (Community Matters, 2019). A quarter of patients admitted to hospital are catheterised but this is not necessary in all cases, and catheters may not get removed before discharge (Community Matters, 2019). ISC is considered the best alternative to an indwelling urinary catheter as it has a lower risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) and minimises harm from catheter-related complications (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 2012). It should be further promoted to reduce the prevalence and over-reliance of indwelling catheter use.

ISC is defined as a person passing a catheter into their bladder to drain urine, then removing the catheter when the urine has been drained. The process of clean intermittent self-catheterisation was introduced by Lapides et al (1972) and found to be a safe, clinically effective alternative to an indwelling catheter in the management of neuropathic bladders. ISC is also believed to be more physiologically normal and acceptable (McConville, 2002) than continuous bladder drainage with a permanent indwelling catheter, as it allows the bladder to fill and empty completely (Barton, 2000; Rigby, 2005).