The efficacy of nursing education as an intervention in the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections in individuals with spinal cord injury

• Published in: SCI nursing Vol. 16; no. 2; p. 54
• Main Authors: Barber, D B, Woodard, F L, Rogers, S J, Able, A C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-06-1999
• Subjects: Cost-Benefit Analysis; Critical Pathways - organization & administration; Education, Nursing, Continuing - organization & administration; Humans; Infection Control - methods; Inservice Training - organization & administration; Nurse Clinicians - organization & administration; Nursing Evaluation Research; Nursing Staff - education; Program Evaluation; Prospective Studies; Recurrence; Spinal Cord Injuries - complications; Urinary Catheterization - adverse effects; Urinary Catheterization - nursing; Urinary Tract Infections - etiology; Urinary Tract Infections - nursing
• ISSN: 0888-8299

Urinary tract infection (UTI) continues to be the most frequent secondary medical complication experienced by persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). We developed a carepath designed to minimize recurrent UTIs in patients identified as at risk. Data were collected in a prospective fashion for 1,000 consecutive days at an outpatient SCI clinic. The number of UTIs decreased to below threshold in 65 percent of the patients when the nurse clinician counseled them regarding proper technique and hygiene related to clean intermittent catheterization. Of the patients who responded to this intervention, 73 percent required multiple counseling sessions. We conclude that educational intervention by a clinic nurse is a simple, cost-effective means of decreasing the risk of UTIs in individuals with SCI who are identified as at risk.