Clinical Scorecard: Assessing Healthcare Professionals' Knowledge and Confidence in Performing Transurethral Catheterization: An Important Concern
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Urinary retention and urinary tract management requiring transurethral catheterization
Key Mechanisms
Drainage of urinary bladder, monitoring urinary output, obtaining sterile urinary samples, and relieving urinary retention via catheter insertion
Target Population
Patients requiring urinary catheterization; healthcare workers performing the procedure including nurses, paramedics, physicians, and residents-in-training
Care Setting
Hospital settings, particularly surgical and non-surgical departments in university hospitals
Key Highlights
Over 100 million transurethral catheterizations are performed annually worldwide, with approximately 200 catheters used every minute.
Difficult catheterizations can cause urethral injuries, including false passage and balloon insufflation in the urethra, leading to morbidity and long-term complications.
Healthcare workers’ knowledge and confidence in performing TUC correlate positively with years of experience and working in surgical specialties.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Perform TUC to diagnose urinary retention and obtain sterile urinary samples for urinary problems.
Management
Use a stepwise, diligent approach with knowledge of genitourinary anatomy and lubricants to ensure safe catheter insertion.
Refer complicated catheterizations requiring medical response to board-certified urologists or urology residents-in-training.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Monitor for signs of urethral injury during and after catheterization, especially in male patients due to anatomical susceptibility.
Risks
Be aware of risks including urethral injury (0.3–1.3% incidence), urethral stricture, and increased morbidity from difficult catheterizations.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Patients requiring urinary catheterization in hospital settings, especially males due to higher injury risk.
Proper training and experience of healthcare workers reduce complications; structured training protocols improve procedural confidence and outcomes.
Clinical Best Practices
Ensure healthcare workers have structured training and adequate experience before performing TUC independently.
Adopt a stepwise approach with thorough knowledge of male and female genitourinary anatomy and use of lubricants.
Recognize complicated catheterizations early and escalate care to specialized urology personnel.
Implement regular assessment of healthcare workers’ confidence and knowledge to identify training needs.
Maintain data quality and follow-up in studies assessing procedural skills to improve educational interventions.
by Gokhan Calik, Zeynep Bahadır, Berk Madendere, Ozgur Arikan, Vahit Guzelburc, Engin Evci, Suleyman Sami Cakir, Bulent Altay, Pilar Laguna, Mehmet Kocak, Selami Albayrak, Rahim Horuz, Kubilay Sabuncu, Mustafa Boz, Bulent Erkurt, Mohamad Aosama Alrifaai, Abdullah Al Chaabawi, Mahmoud Alrais, Ibrahim Abdi Ali, Shaban M. S. Ashour, Jean de la Rosette
