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Designing and assessing a urethral catheter skills workshop for intern doctors in a university teaching hospital

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Abstract

Background

Urethral catheterisation (UC) is a frequently performed medical procedure and catheter-related injuries can lead to significant morbidity for patients. The aims of this study are to assess interns’ exposure to UC and to design, implement and assess a structured UC skills workshop for hospital interns.

Methods

A 10-item anonymous questionnaire on UC was distributed to interns in two university teaching hospitals. Respondents were invited to participate in a skills workshop. Teaching methods for correct UC technique included a lecture, a video tutorial and a simulated patient model. Participants’ catheter insertion skills were assessed using a 20-item OSCE checklist when the UC workshop concluded.

Results

In total, 40 interns completed the initial questionnaire of whom 26 (65%) had not received any dedicated catheter skills training prior to commencing internship. Fourteen (35%) were unsupervised during their first UC. Fifteen (37%) interns attended the dedicated skills workshop. All interns found the workshop beneficial and 12 (80%) reported an improvement on confidence afterwards. Following the workshop, the mean (± standard deviation) catheter insertion OSCE score was 92% (± 14.1).

Conclusions

Interns have a lack of knowledge, experience and confidence with catheter insertion. Current training models are deficient. The introduction of a structured skills workshop may help to improve catheter insertion skills among interns.

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Data availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Abbreviations

AUA:

American Urological Association

BAUS:

British Association of Urological Surgeons

CAUTI:

catheter-associated urinary tract infection

OSCE:

objective structured clinical examination

UC:

urethral catheterisation

UTI:

urinary tract infection

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Acknowledgments

I wish to thank Mr. Adam Roche, RCSI, who provided us with the catheterisation models and I am grateful for his assistance in this regard.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Aisling U. Nic an Ríogh, Clare O’Connell, Peter E. Lonergan & Niall F. Davis

Authors
  1. Aisling U. Nic an Ríogh
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  2. Clare O’Connell
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  3. Peter E. Lonergan
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  4. Niall F. Davis
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by A Nic an Ríogh. The first draft of the manuscript was written by A Nic an Ríogh and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aisling U. Nic an Ríogh.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This research follows the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Verbal informed consent was obtained from all participants.

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Nic an Ríogh, A.U., O’Connell, C., Lonergan, P.E. et al. Designing and assessing a urethral catheter skills workshop for intern doctors in a university teaching hospital. Ir J Med Sci 189, 1501–1506 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-020-02240-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-020-02240-4

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