Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: GRADE methodology requires that up to seven critical outcomes are selected to highlight the most relevant findings of the systematic review (1). However, the selection of these outcomes has so far been left to the review authors. As far as we are aware, no Cochrane systematic reviews have explored the views of patients while selecting outcomes for summary of findings tables.
Objective: To identify which outcomes are important to patients undergoing short-term urinary catheterisation.
Methods: We contacted content experts to identify outcomes of importance to patients undergoing short-term urinary catheterisation that could be included in a Cochrane systematic review. The content experts included clinicians, nurses, and a health economist. Subsequently, through a local charity (UCAN), we identified five individuals who had undergone urinary catheterisation and invited them to take part in a group discussion to identify important outcomes from their perspective. The participants were not aware of the views of the content experts.
Results: The content experts identified the following critical outcomes: symptomatic catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) with microbiological evidence; symptomatic CAUTI without microbiological evidence; patient discomfort whilst catheter is in situ; bacterial resistance to the antimicrobial agent; and urinary sepsis. Participants suggested that infections and discomfort were certainly important from their point of view. However, they also highlighted length of hospital stay and the duration of catheterisation as important. Interestingly, participants also raised issues around being catheterised and the impact on self-esteem and ability to wear clothes comfortably.
Conclusions: There was some overlap between the views of the participants and the content experts on important outcomes, but patients reported that broader quality of life issues were also of importance. It is paramount that patient’s perspective is at the heart of Cochrane Reviews in order to maximise their relevance.
Reference
1. Guyatt GH, et al. GRADE guidelines:12. Preparing summary of findings tables-binary outcomes. JCE 2013; 66(2):158–172.
Objective: To identify which outcomes are important to patients undergoing short-term urinary catheterisation.
Methods: We contacted content experts to identify outcomes of importance to patients undergoing short-term urinary catheterisation that could be included in a Cochrane systematic review. The content experts included clinicians, nurses, and a health economist. Subsequently, through a local charity (UCAN), we identified five individuals who had undergone urinary catheterisation and invited them to take part in a group discussion to identify important outcomes from their perspective. The participants were not aware of the views of the content experts.
Results: The content experts identified the following critical outcomes: symptomatic catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) with microbiological evidence; symptomatic CAUTI without microbiological evidence; patient discomfort whilst catheter is in situ; bacterial resistance to the antimicrobial agent; and urinary sepsis. Participants suggested that infections and discomfort were certainly important from their point of view. However, they also highlighted length of hospital stay and the duration of catheterisation as important. Interestingly, participants also raised issues around being catheterised and the impact on self-esteem and ability to wear clothes comfortably.
Conclusions: There was some overlap between the views of the participants and the content experts on important outcomes, but patients reported that broader quality of life issues were also of importance. It is paramount that patient’s perspective is at the heart of Cochrane Reviews in order to maximise their relevance.
Reference
1. Guyatt GH, et al. GRADE guidelines:12. Preparing summary of findings tables-binary outcomes. JCE 2013; 66(2):158–172.