Attitudes among junior doctors towards improving the transurethral catheterisation process

Objectives: To evaluate the subjective opinions of junior doctors on their adequacy of training and confidence levels for performing transurethral catheterisation (TUC) and to investigate their subjective interest in a ‘safety mechanism’ that would eliminate the potential for urethral trauma during TUC. Methods: An anonymous online survey was emailed to all interns that had a documented email address on the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland registry (2012–2013). The survey consisted of eight questions pertaining to TUC of male patients. Results: The survey was delivered to 252 email addresses and the response rate was 52 % (130/252). The vast majority (99 %; n = 128) of interns felt confident inserting a transurethral catheter independently and 73 % (n = 95) subjectively received appropriate training for catheterising male patients. The incidence of trauma after mistakenly inflating the catheter’s anchoring balloon in the urethra was 3 % (n = 4). The majority (90 %; n = 116) of respondents were interested in a safety mechanism for preventing urethral trauma and 71 % (n = 92) felt that a safety mechanism for urethral trauma prevention should be compulsory for all transurethral catheterisation among male patients. Conclusion: Despite pre-emptive training programmes, it appears that iatrogenic urethral trauma secondary to TUC remains a persistent morbidity in healthcare settings. Designing a safer transurethral catheter may be necessary to eliminate the risk of unnecessary urethral trauma in patients.