Patient Support Program and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Patients Using Clean Intermittent Catheterization for Bladder Management.
Shaquib Al Hasan, Levi Neal-Herman, Holly S Norman and 2 others
PMID 36108231WHAT IT FOUND
People using clean intermittent catheterization who were enrolled in a support program reported fewer emergency visits and hospital stays in the first 30 days.
The groups were not randomly assigned, so this is an observed link, not proof the program caused the difference.
Key findings
01The support program, which included care-advisor calls, support tools, and wellness education, was associated with a 47% decrease in emergency department visits within the first month (adjusted rate ratio 0.53; 95% CI 0.30-0.96; P = .036).
02The support program, which included care-advisor calls, support tools, and wellness education, was associated with a 77% decrease in hospital overnight stays within the first month (adjusted rate ratio 0.23; 95% CI 0.09-0.59; P = .002).
03A higher proportion of support group respondents reported adherence to prescribed CIC frequency (87.5%) than comparison respondents (79.8%; P = .039).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional and relied on self-reported emergency visits and hospital stays without medical record verification. The groups were not randomly assigned, and most support program members were enrolled by clinicians, so selection bias could explain the differences. Only 9.4% of invited people responded, and 445 of 864 respondents were analysed after exclusions, so the results may not represent all CIC users. Adherence was self-reported and defined by a 70% cutoff chosen by the authors, not a standard CIC measure. The support program bundled care-advisor calls, tools and samples, and wellness education, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. The program was provided by a catheter manufacturer and included product samples and supplier help, which may affect generalizability.
Declared interests
The support program studied was provided by Coloplast, a catheter manufacturer. Participants were identified from catheter manufacturer and distributor databases, and survey items were generated by nonclinician CIC experts from a catheter manufacturer. No funding or conflict-of-interest declaration appears in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the support program caused fewer emergency visits or hospital stays. The groups were not randomly assigned, outcomes were self-reported, the response rate was 9.4%, and people enrolled in the program may differ from those who were not.