Intermittent catheterization (IC) is the gold-standard management for individuals with non-obstructed urinary retention and neurogenic bladder. Learning IC is physically and psychologically challenging, and several men express fear of practicing IC because of the risk of urethral trauma and urinary infections. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an enhanced educational intervention in improving IC acceptance and adherence compared to standard clinical practice training. This multicenter, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial will enroll 128 male patients, randomly assigned to either the intervention group, receiving standard training plus an informational booklet and video tutorial, or the control group, receiving standard training alone. The primary outcome is the improvement in IC acceptance, measured by the Intermittent Catheterization Acceptance Test (I-CAT) score at three months (T2). Secondary outcomes include adherence levels (I-CAS), urinary symptoms (USQNB-IC), procedural autonomy (Autonomy Checklist), and patient-reported satisfaction (QUEST). Findings from this study will provide evidence-based guidance on optimizing IC education to enhance patient self-management and adherence.
MethodsX. 2025 Aug 06*** epublish ***
Rosario Caruso, Laura Pelizzari, Giovanni Cardilli, Simone Bajardo, Tatiana Bianconi, Maria Luisa Giordano, Giorgio Scivoletto, Alessandro Giammò, Luisa De Palma, Lina Di Lucente, Maria A Marquez, Lisa Morbidelli, Alexandra Pellegrino, Daniela Monducci, Antonio Boffa, Stefania Musco
Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy., Department of Rehabilitative Medicine, AUSL Piacenza, Fiorenzuola d'Arda, Piacenza, Italy., Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy., IRCCS Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar, Verona, Italy., Spinal Cord Unit, ASST GOM Niguarda, Milan, Italy., Service of Occupational Therapy, Orthopedic Trauma Center, Rome, Italy., Unit of Neuro-Urology, Città della Salute e della Scienza University Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy., Spinal Cord Unit, Policlinico University Hospital, Bari, Italy., Universidad Fernando Pessoa-Canarias, Las Palmas, Spain., Neuro-Urology Department, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Firenze, Italy., Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, Imola, Italy.