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Reusable intermittent catheters are acceptable but product innovation is needed an interview study of catheter users’ experiences

Reusable intermittent catheters are acceptable but product innovation is needed an interview study of catheter users’ experiences
Reusable intermittent catheters are acceptable but product innovation is needed an interview study of catheter users’ experiences

Purpose: the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of intermittent catheter users after using both reusable and single-use catheters, with a particular focus on factors that affected acceptability.

Design: qualitative descriptive study following a clinical trial.

Participants and setting: thirty-six participants who had used both reusable and single-use catheters in a clinical trial were interviewed between June 2022 and March 2024. All were living at home in England or Wales, UK.

Methods: participants were invited to interview following one-year's use of a reusable catheter as part of a clinical trial. The reusable catheter was used in combination with their usual single-use catheter. Semi-structured telephone and video interviews were used to enable participants to describe their experiences. Data were analyzed using inductive methods and framework analysis to develop themes and subthemes.

Results: data analysis identified 4 themes. Successful use of the reusable catheter depended on capacity, confidence and willingness of the individual to adapt. Most people found reuse easier to do at home but there were significant barriers when going out. The design of the catheter used in the trial and the process of reuse did not suit everyone. While there was a desire to continue reuse, this was conditional on the provision of single-use catheters to enable users to mix and match both types in different situations.

Conclusions: this study presents data from participants who were enthusiastic to try reusable catheters, mainly for environmental reasons, as part of a trial. For most there was a desire to mix and match, combining single use and reusable catheters for different situations. Innovation is needed to create a range of reusable catheter designs and cleaning processes that better meet individual needs.

Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, England, Equipment Reuse/standards, Female, Humans, Interviews as Topic/methods, Male, Middle Aged, Qualitative Research, Wales, Qualitative research, Reuse, Reusable catheter, Intermittent catheter
1528-3976
59-65
Clancy, Bridget
e8c1ebfe-a313-4bf8-878b-de0f5facd8c0
Murphy, Cathy
b7f2dd56-3a8a-412a-9f6a-bf468ce7f749
Avery, Miriam
ad9dda5f-a7da-42dc-8cb7-83a8ca37e6ef
Macaulay, Margaret
505970d3-1e67-4c1f-8291-3a950d336c6b
May, Carl
17697f8d-98f6-40d3-9cc0-022f04009ae4
Fader, Mandy
c318f942-2ddb-462a-9183-8b678faf7277
Clancy, Bridget
e8c1ebfe-a313-4bf8-878b-de0f5facd8c0
Murphy, Cathy
b7f2dd56-3a8a-412a-9f6a-bf468ce7f749
Avery, Miriam
ad9dda5f-a7da-42dc-8cb7-83a8ca37e6ef
Macaulay, Margaret
505970d3-1e67-4c1f-8291-3a950d336c6b
May, Carl
17697f8d-98f6-40d3-9cc0-022f04009ae4
Fader, Mandy
c318f942-2ddb-462a-9183-8b678faf7277

Clancy, Bridget, Murphy, Cathy, Avery, Miriam, Macaulay, Margaret, May, Carl and Fader, Mandy (2025) Reusable intermittent catheters are acceptable but product innovation is needed an interview study of catheter users’ experiences. Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 52 (1), 59-65. (doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000001141).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Purpose: the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of intermittent catheter users after using both reusable and single-use catheters, with a particular focus on factors that affected acceptability.

Design: qualitative descriptive study following a clinical trial.

Participants and setting: thirty-six participants who had used both reusable and single-use catheters in a clinical trial were interviewed between June 2022 and March 2024. All were living at home in England or Wales, UK.

Methods: participants were invited to interview following one-year's use of a reusable catheter as part of a clinical trial. The reusable catheter was used in combination with their usual single-use catheter. Semi-structured telephone and video interviews were used to enable participants to describe their experiences. Data were analyzed using inductive methods and framework analysis to develop themes and subthemes.

Results: data analysis identified 4 themes. Successful use of the reusable catheter depended on capacity, confidence and willingness of the individual to adapt. Most people found reuse easier to do at home but there were significant barriers when going out. The design of the catheter used in the trial and the process of reuse did not suit everyone. While there was a desire to continue reuse, this was conditional on the provision of single-use catheters to enable users to mix and match both types in different situations.

Conclusions: this study presents data from participants who were enthusiastic to try reusable catheters, mainly for environmental reasons, as part of a trial. For most there was a desire to mix and match, combining single use and reusable catheters for different situations. Innovation is needed to create a range of reusable catheter designs and cleaning processes that better meet individual needs.

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Published date: 1 January 2025
Keywords: Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, England, Equipment Reuse/standards, Female, Humans, Interviews as Topic/methods, Male, Middle Aged, Qualitative Research, Wales, Qualitative research, Reuse, Reusable catheter, Intermittent catheter

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 498474
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/498474
ISSN: 1528-3976
PURE UUID: eefaab04-6abf-42a4-88a0-da00c622b17d
ORCID for Cathy Murphy: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1244-5106
ORCID for Margaret Macaulay: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1737-4589
ORCID for Carl May: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-0451-2690

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Date deposited: 19 Feb 2025 18:06
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 02:20

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Contributors

Author: Bridget Clancy
Author: Cathy Murphy ORCID iD
Author: Miriam Avery
Author: Carl May ORCID iD
Author: Mandy Fader

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