Patients With Spina Bifida and Their Caregivers' Feelings About Intermittent Bladder Catheterization in Brazil and Germany: A Correlational Study.
A major complication for individuals with spina bifida (SB) is managing their neurogenic bladder. For many, this process evokes negative feelings associated with guilt, dependence, and lack of self-worth.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to compare feelings that hinder the performing of intermittent bladder catheterization reported by individuals with SB and their families in two countries of different sociocultural characteristics: Brazil and Germany.


METHODS
Quantitative and comparative study with convenience sampling. The sample comprised 200 SB patients and their caregivers, 100 from Brazil and 100 from Germany.


RESULTS
When asked about the existence of negative feelings or ideas that may hinder the performance of key person responsible for IC, 155 (77.5%) participants did not report such feelings. On the other hand, 45 (22.5%) reported emotional difficulties; among these participants, 31 (69%) were Brazilians and 14 (31%) were Germans.


CONCLUSIONS
Although emotional factors are important to the adjustment of using IC methods for bladder management, the majority of people with SB and their caregivers seem to report no major emotional difficulties with this process. Yet a considerable group of participants did report such emotional difficulties associated with fear and shame. Knowing more about the factors associated with such negative feelings can facilitate interactions, provide mutual aid, and assist with resolution of practical concerns related to intermittent bladder catheterization.
1 Nursing School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo - USP, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil2 Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany3 Mercy Hospital for Women, Melbourne, VIC, Australia4 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Fabiana
F
Faleiros
Adriana
A
Cordeiro
Naira
N
Favoretto
Christoph
C
Käppler
Christine
C
Murray
Denise
D
Tate
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D057928:Intermittent Urethral Catheterization / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012752:Shame; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*