Psychosocial factors in teenagers and young adults with myelomeningocele and clean intermittent catheterization.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to analyse the psychosocial factors of teenagers and young adults with myelomeningocele with at least 5 years' experience of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC).


METHODS
A qualitative interview technique with semi-structured questions was used in 22 participants aged 13-26 years (median 17) and issues addressed were information given to others, integrity, attitudes to other disabilities, friendship, partnership and sexuality.


RESULTS
The participants wanted to inform their peers about the disability but often did not have the courage. Ignorance of the principle of self-CIC among medical staff was confusing. Urinary incontinence after the introduction of the self-CIC regimen was not seen as a problem in comparison with other major disabilities. Half of the participants had peers that they could call a best friend. The subjects wanted more specific information regarding their own sexual function. Finding a partner and becoming a parent were strongly desired but considered problematic.


CONCLUSIONS
The participants wished to acquire more knowledge about CIC as a bladder-emptying method from the medical staff and also to have the respect to perform self-CIC at examinations. This study did not find any negative psychosocial factors associated with CIC.
Lindehall
Birgitta
B
Regional Rehabilitation Centre for Children and Adolescents, Göteborg, Sweden. Birgitta.Lindehall@vgregion.se
Möller
Anders
A
Hjälmås
Kelm
K
Jodal
Ulf
U
Abrahamsson
Kate
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult