A prospective comparative pilot study comparing the urine collection pad with clean catch urine technique in non-toilet-trained children.
BACKGROUND
There are many different methods for collecting urine from paediatric patients in emergency departments. Therefore, the aims of the study were to:


METHODS
The three month study was a prospective non-randomised comparative paediatric pilot study. A purposeful sample of children, requiring a urine microscopy for clinical management, presenting to one district emergency department was enrolled in the study to compare two non-invasive techniques of urine collection.


RESULTS
Thirty-three patients were enrolled and satisfactory samples were obtained from 22 patients. The heavy (mixed growth) contamination rate in the UCP group (n=2; 9.1%) versus the CCU group (n=1; 4.5%) was not statistically significant (p=0.50 by Fisher's exact test). The rate of agreement (n=20; 91%) in diagnosing or excluding urinary tract infection between the two groups was high. The median time to urine collection between the two groups (UCP method 30 min; CCU 107.5 min) was statistically significant (p<0.002, Mann-Whitney U test).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that UCPs are practicable in Australasian Emergency Departments and may lead to faster diagnosis, disposition and reduced hospital stay.
Emergency Department, Mona Vale Hospital, 1 Coronation Street, Mona Vale, NSW 2103, Australia. Electronic address: Irene.Ho@health.nsw.gov.au.
Irene V A
IV
Ho
Children's Hospital Westmead, Gastroenterology Department, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
Cheng Hiang
CH
Lee
Nursing and Midwifery Directorate NSLHD, Royal North Shore Hospital, Level 7 Kolling Building, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. Electronic address: Margaret.Fry@health.nsw.gov.au.
Margaret
M
Fry
D016638:Critical Illness; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D059349:Urine Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*
Child; Clean catch urine; Emergency care; Emergency nursing; Infant; Urinary tract infection; Urine collection method; Urine collection pad