03 May Survey Finds Majority of Men Fearful of Urinary Catheters
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Errol Singh
Errol Singh, M.D.
Urologist and CEO of PercuVision
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Dr. Singh: We set out to better understand the American public’s fears around Foley catheters and hopefully bring attention to the fact that hospitalizations due to infections from urinary catheters are on the rise. Interestingly enough, 20 percent of hospital patients undergo a urinary catheterization, which is the second most common procedure following intravenous therapy. The procedure, however, often leads to complications including infections mostly caused by trauma.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Dr. Singh: The main findings of the 2016 Urinary Catheter Fear Survey revealed that three out of five men (58 percent) are fearful of urinary catheterizations, while one out of every four men is very fearful of the procedure. Younger men also seem to be more fearful than their older counterparts. More than two-thirds (68 percent) of men ages 18-34 surveyed are fearful of urinary catheterizations, compared to 43 percent of males 65 and over.
Clearly, females are less fearful, with 46 percent of women saying they are not fearful of urinary catheterizations, compared to 37 percent of men. It’s also important to note that half of all women surveyed say they fear the procedure, and 25 percent reporting they are very fearful. You can find more of the 2016 Urinary Catheter Fear Survey results on our website atwww.percuvision.com.
MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Singh: Our survey results show that both men and women are justified in their concerns about urinary catheters. Cather-related infections are mainly caused by trauma associated with blind catheter insertions, which also leads to pain, discomfort and higher healthcare costs. There is vision-based catheter technology available like our DirectVision® line of products with patented micro-endoscope technologies that brings vision to blind medical devices. These new devices are cost-effective options to traditional Foley catheters that we believe will not only improve patient outcomes by helping reduce trauma, but also improve the patient’s overall experience.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Singh: : While vision-based catheter technologies are being used by some of the leading hospitals and healthcare facilities, most catheterizations today continue to be performed blindly, relying strictly upon a clinician’s tactile sensation to ‘feel’ a successful and safe catheter advancement. It’s imperative that we adopt these new technologies to help reduce the risk of trauma and other contributors to catheter-related infections.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation:
Survey conducted by PercuVision® LLC
Published May 3 2016
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
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Last Updated on May 3, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD