In this study, we examined the long-term results of intermittent urethral catheterization in elderly patients over 80 years old and the nursing support required for the continuation of catheterization, with the aim of investigating challenges facing the elderly during long-term catheterization. To investigate the long-term results, 58 patients (35 men and 23 women, an average of 83.21±4.2 years old) aged 80 years or older who had started intermittent catheterization at a hospital in Tokyo between April 2002 and October 2010 were selected for analysis. Their medical records were reviewed to collect data on background factors, the duration of catheterization, and complications. To assess the nursing support needed for continuation of catheterization, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 patients (13 men, seven women, an average of 85.2±3.0 years old) and their families who had been performing intermittent urethral catheterization for more than one year. The results showed that for the self-interruption of CIC in 58, as for one person, the change to other urination methods ; for four people, the secession case of CIC ; contracted urinary tract infection in three people while 11 people had complications, which were improved by antimicrobial dosage both. The factors that were identified as contributing to the continuation of catheterization were as follows: (1) improvement of symptoms related to urination, (2) improvement of the quality of life, and (3) a reduced burden of care. The categories selected as necessary for nursing support were as follows: (1) technical guidance set according to the levels of performance of the patients and their caregivers, (2) an intermittent catheterization program that suited the patient's daily life, and (3) timely responses tailored to each patient's needs.
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