Intervention to reduce unnecessary urinary catheter use in a large academic health science centre: A theory-based process evaluation

Abstract Background: Inappropriate use of urinary catheters can increase the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) leading to increased morbidity and increased costs. The overall purpose of this study was to evaluate an intervention to reduce unnecessary urinary catheter use and prevent CAUTI in hospitalized patients across a large academic health science centre. Methods: This was a two-phase study, which took place between 2017 and 2019. Phase 1 was a pre- and post-intervention design to test the impact of a CAUTI protocol across the organization. Audits on 4 units pre and post were conducted, and data were analyzed descriptively. Phase 2 was a theory-based process evaluation to understand the barriers and enablers to the implementation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and then analyzed using a systematic approach. Results: Phase 1: All inpatients with urinary catheters admitted on the four selected units during the study period (n=99, pre) and (n=99, post) were included. CAUTI prevalence rate was 18.2% pre vs 14.1% post (p=.563). Phase 2: participants (n=18) who worked during the study period on the four audit units were interviewed, and a total of 13 barriers and 19 enablers were found across the participant groups. Conclusion: No statistically significant difference in CAUTI prevalence rates were noted. The theory-based process evaluation provided insights into barriers and enablers to the implementation which may help reformulate the intervention in the future.