{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,16]],"date-time":"2026-05-16T21:42:41Z","timestamp":1778967761648,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":15,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"9","funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100007602","name":"Programme Grants for Applied Research","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100007602","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2017,7,4]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title><jats:p>To elucidate the views of intermittent catheter (IC) users regarding urinary tract infection (UTI) symptom presentation, terminology for describing signs and symptoms, the cause of UTI and management strategies.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Design<\/jats:title><jats:p>Qualitative study with semi-structured interviews. The transcribed text was analysed thematically.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Setting<\/jats:title><jats:p>12 general practitioner (GP) surgeries in Hampshire and Dorset, UK.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Participants<\/jats:title><jats:p>A convenience sample of 30 IC users, aged over 18, using IC for at least 3 months who had at least one self-reported UTI since starting IC.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Participants reported a variety of signs and symptoms, such as urine cloudiness and smell, as indicators of UTI. The terms used often differed from those in the modified National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) symptom set. IC users had difficulty distinguishing possible UTI symptoms from those of their comorbidities. They expressed uncertainty about the cause of UTI, often attributing it to poor hygiene and lifestyle behaviours. Whereas some viewed UTI as an expected consequence of IC use that could be self-managed, others felt more concerned and were more reliant on their GP for support. A range of management strategies was described, including drinking more fluids, increased attention to personal hygiene and self-medicating with antibiotics.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>There is uncertainty among IC users about UTI signs and symptoms and when to seek help. Individual accounts of UTI fitted generally within the modified NIDRR descriptors but adopted less technical and more \u2018lay\u2019 language. IC users\u2019 descriptions of UTI signs and symptoms can lack precision, owing partly to the presence of underlying health conditions. This, together with differing levels of concern about the need to seek help and self-medication with antibiotics, presents challenges for the GP. This study provides the basis for developing a self-help tool which may aid identification of UTI and enhance communication with healthcare professionals.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2017-016453","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,9,5]],"date-time":"2017-09-05T00:10:13Z","timestamp":1504570213000},"page":"e016453","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":24,"title":["Intermittent catheter users\u2019 symptom identification, description and management of urinary tract infection: a qualitative study"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"Ikumi","family":"Okamoto","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jacqui","family":"Prieto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Miriam","family":"Avery","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Katherine","family":"Moore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mandy","family":"Fader","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Samantha","family":"Sartain","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Bridget","family":"Clancy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,9,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.sc.3101348"},{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E910","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1464-410X.2012.11549.x","article-title":"Clean intermittent catheterization and urinary tract infection: review and guide for future research","volume":"110","author":"Wyndaele","year":"2012","journal-title":"BJU Int"},{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.3","first-page":"194","article-title":"The prevention and management of urinary tract infections among people with spinal cord injuries. National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Consensus Statement. January 27-29, 1992","volume":"15","year":"1992","journal-title":"J Am Paraplegia Soc"},{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1469-0691.2003.00643.x"},{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"568","DOI":"10.1080\/10790268.2009.11754562","article-title":"Validity, accuracy, and predictive value of urinary tract infection signs and symptoms in individuals with spinal cord injury on intermittent catheterization","volume":"32","author":"Massa","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Spinal Cord Med"},{"issue":"9-10","key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1253","DOI":"10.1111\/jocn.13146","article-title":"Patients' experience with intermittent catheterisation in everyday life","volume":"25","author":"Cobussen-Boekhorst","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Clin Nurs"},{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"220","DOI":"10.3109\/09638288.2013.785606","article-title":"Using intermittent self-catheters: experiences of people with neurological damage to their spinal cord","volume":"36","author":"Kelly","year":"2014","journal-title":"Disabil Rehabil"},{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijnurstu.2013.01.009"},{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1254","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2648.2010.05583.x","article-title":"A qualitative descriptive study of self-management issues in people with long-term intermittent urinary catheters","volume":"67","author":"Wilde","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Adv Nurs"},{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1749-771X.2011.01120.x","article-title":"Intermittent self-catheterization service provision: perspectives of people with spinal cord injury","volume":"5","author":"Logan","year":"2011","journal-title":"International Journal of Urological Nursing"},{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"660","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1471-6712.2008.00657.x","article-title":"Coping with clean intermittent catherization--experiences from a patient perspective","volume":"23","author":"Jaquet","year":"2009","journal-title":"Scand J Caring Sci"},{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2648.2007.04536.x"},{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.13","unstructured":"Fader M . Development and clinical trial of a mixed (multi\/single-use) catheter management package for users of intermittent catheterisation.. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) Programme (Grant Reference Number RP-PG-0610-10078)\u00a0, 2013."},{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.c279"},{"key":"2024051613410407000_7.9.e016453.15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1086\/650482"}],"container-title":["BMJ Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2017-016453","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,16]],"date-time":"2024-05-16T20:43:04Z","timestamp":1715892184000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2017-016453"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2017,9]]},"references-count":15,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,9,3]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,9]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjopen-2017-016453"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2017-016453","relation":{},"ISSN":["2044-6055","2044-6055"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2044-6055","type":"print"},{"value":"2044-6055","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2017,9]]}}}