Patients’ experiences of urinary retention and bladder care – A qualitative study in orthopaedic care

• Published in: International journal of orthopaedic and trauma nursing 2023-08, Vol.50, p.101034, Article 101034
• Main Authors: Winberg, Madeleine, Hälleberg Nyman, Maria, Fjordkvist, Erika, Joelsson-Alm, Eva, Eldh, Ann Catrine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1878-1241; 1878-1292
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijotn.2023.101034

Urinary retention is a common complication associated with hip surgery. There are easily available, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines prescribing how to prevent both urinary retention and other voiding issues, by means of bladder monitoring and risk assessments. A detected lack of adherence to such guidelines increases risks for unnecessary suffering among patients but a greater understanding of patients’ experiences can benefit tailored interventions to address quality and safety gaps in orthopaedic nursing and rehabilitation. The aim was to describe patients’ experiences of urinary retention, bladder issues, and bladder care in orthopaedic care due to hip surgery. This was a qualitative study with a descriptive design: content analysis with an inductive approach was applied to interviews (n = 32) and survey free-text responses (n = 122) across 17 orthopaedic units in Sweden. The patients had received no or limited details for the recurrent bladder care interventions (such as bladder scans and prompted voiding) while at the hospital. They relied on the staff for safe procedures but were left to themselves to manage and comprehend prevailing bladder issues. Despite the patients’ experiences of bladder issues or the risk of urinary retention postoperatively, the link to hip surgery remained unknown to the patients, leaving them searching for self-management strategies and further care. Patients’ perspectives on bladder care, urinary retention and bladder issues can serve as a means for increased understanding of procedures and issues, reinforcing improved implementation of guidelines, including person-centred information. Safer bladder procedures imply further patient engagement, highlighted in guidelines. •Patients can experience a variety of bladder issues due to hip surgery.•Bladder care procedures are widely performed but not clarified.•Any link between bladder issues and hip surgery seems unknown to patients’•Patient perspectives can provide for improved bladder care communication.•Bladder guidelines should sustain patient engagement and participation.