title: Indwelling urinary catheter use at the end of life: a retrospective audit.
abstract: This audit aimed to measure: the prevalence of indwelling urinary catheters in patients at the end of life; the use of nursing documentation relating to catheter insertion and care; and prevalence of continence screening on admission. The audit involved a retrospective examination of case notes of patients who died on two oncology wards and a hospice at a large teaching hospital in the south of England. The audit showed that 63% of patients had an indwelling catheter during their admission. Documentation relating to urinary catheter insertion and care was present in 75% of cases, and 75% of patients received continence screening on admission. The findings confirm that indwelling urinary catheters are frequently used as a tool to manage urinary difficulties at the end of life, but that the indications for insertion and continued use can be unclear. Research is needed to establish appropriate use.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Academic Fellow and Staff Nurse at the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farrington
authors.affiliation: Professor of Continence Technology at the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fader
authors.affiliation: Clinical Professor in Cancer Nursing and End of Life Care at the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Senior Clinical Academic Research Fellow at the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Jacqui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Palliative Medicine at the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bush
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009731:Nursing Audit / Q000379:methods*; D009737:Nursing Records; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy