Healthcare workers’ knowledge and practice of proper adult male urethral catheterisation and resource availability at district hospitals in Kilimanjaro

Abstract

Background: Urethral catheterisation is a common, standard and sterile procedure used to drain the urinary bladder through the urethra. The procedure is done with caution and care, since complications arising from it may be devastating. In Tanzania, the number of iatrogenic urethral catheterisation injuries resulting in urethral stricture disease is increasing. Consequently, healthcare workers (HCWs) need to know the appropriate techniques for male urethral catheterisation.

Objectives: This study aims to determine HCWs’ levels of knowledge and practice in adult male urethral catheterisation, and whether the district hospitals in the Kilimanjaro region in Tanzania have adequate resources for the procedure.

Methodology: This is an analytical, cross-sectional study conducted from January to June 2024. A questionnaire was used to obtain information from HCWs.

Results: A total of 354 HCWs participated, of which 73.4% were nurses and 26.6% were doctors. Of the participants, 76% had a low level of knowledge; nurses had 7.25 times the odds of having a low knowledge level. A poor level of practice was found in 92.4% of the participants. Nurses had 2.02 times the odds of having poor practice. A statistically significant positive correlation of 0.112 was seen between the levels of knowledge and practice. Equipment for catheterisations was available in all district hospitals.

Conclusion: HCWs in district hospitals have a low level of knowledge and poor practice of proper adult male urethral catheterisation. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between HCWs’ levels of knowledge and practice. Most district hospitals have appropriate equipment for proper adult male urethral catheterisation.