URETHRAL CATHETERIZATION

Abstract

Objectives: (1) To assess the theoretical and practical knowledge of young doctors about urethral catheterization. (2) To evaluate the experience and level of confidence of young doctors regarding the urethral catheterization in various tertiary care centers of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Period: Sep 2009 to Feb 2010. Setting: Tertiary Care Centre, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi. Subjects and methods: A questionnaire was distributed among 400 young doctors working as interns in various tertiary care teaching hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. We obtained the information about observation, assistance, performance and knowledge of young doctors about urethral catheterization. Results: Questionnaire was distributed to about 400 young doctors working as interns in different teaching hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Among the 400 doctors, 20 (5%) doctors never observed the male urethral catheterization and 35 (8.75%) doctors never observed female urethral catheterization. While among these 400 doctors 159 (38.75%) doctors never assisted male urethral catheterization and 175 (43.75%) doctors never assisted female urethral catheterization. Moreover 205 (51.25%) doctors never performed the male urethral catheterization and 185 (46.25%) doctors never performed female urethral catheterization. Conclusions: Training of young doctors about UC is not adequate. There is a need to train the young interns properly on this aspect. A senior resident or registrar of department should demonstrate the procedure in front of young interns before they are allowed to practice and first few catheterizations should be supervised by senior residents. Other alternate is the use of manikens for training of house officers.