The Current Nursing Procedure for Intermittent Urinary Catheterization in Rehabilitation Facilities

The purpose of the research study described in this article was to identify the range of catheterization techniques currently practiced in inpatient care settings and to determine current methods of patient-caregiver education about catheterization in a home setting. A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 175 rehabilitation facilities accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF); the return rate was 81%. Data were analyzed on the basis of region of the country, type of practice setting, and number of rehabilitation beds. There were few statistically significant correlations, based on this analysis. These results provide a baseline for current practice and suggest the need for development of a standard for practice based on research. A multicenter study that compares clean with sterile methods needs to be conducted to determine which technique is preferable for inpatient practice and which for patient-caregiver education.