[Management of patients with long term indwelling catheter: Survey of Limousin general practitioners].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the management of patients with long-term (>1 month) indwelling catheter by general practitioners (GP). PATIENTS AND METHODS A self-questionnaire was sent to 603 regional GP, between March and May 2010. It was composed of 12 multiple-choice questions and one open question, about management of their patients with indwelling catheter. RESULTS Two hundred and twenty-eight self-questionnaires were analyzed: 126 (55%) from urban GP and 102 (45%) from rural GP. On average, each GP managed 1.3 patients with long term indwelling catheter (>1 month). The catheters were changed by the GP, urologists, and nurses in 23.2, 23.7, and 53.1%, respectively. In a majority of cases, catheters were changed every 4 weeks (59%). Nursing cares were prescribed by 64.5% of GP. Prescribed drainage bags were sterile in 42.5%. Most of GP reported to prescribe a daily change of drainage bag (56.1%). Urine analysis as performed only in case of symptomatic urine infection by 58% of respondents. Fifty percent of GP required guidelines for the management of patients with long term indwelling catheter. Rural GP managed significantly more patients with indwelling catheter, prescribed fewer sterile drainage bags, made change the drainage bag less often, and required the help of urologist less frequently. CONCLUSION Management of long term indwelling catheter was heterogeneous among GP, and varied according to rural or urban practice. Some used significantly differed from available practice guidelines. This survey could be a basis for the preparation of an informative document aimed at GP.