Urinary tract care: improvement through patient education.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a special program of patient and family education in urinary tract care would result in improved control of urinary tract infection (UTI) by spinal cord injury patients at home. The Williamson Functional Impairment Scale, modified to measure outcomes of impairment due to UTI, was applied to 54 patients in 1975 and to 21 in 1979. Patients in the latter group had completed a special urinary tract care education program of classes, reading material, written examinations, and demonstrations of acquired skills. At follow-up, only 32% of the patients in the 1975 group were asymptomatic of UTI, compared with 71% of the 1979 group. Only 5% of the patients in the 1979 group lost time from their usual daily activities, compared with 23% of the 1975 group. The improvements in impairment outcomes were not related to a reduction in the incidence of confirmed or suspected UTI (found in 63% of patients in the 1975 group and 62% of patients in the 1979 group). It is concluded that the 1979 group recognized symptoms earlier and took definitive action which resulted in less impairment and time lost due to UTI. The patient education program did result in improved urinary tract care after discharge.