Self-cathing experience journal: Enhancing the patient and family experience in clean intermittent catheterization

The SC-EJ appears to be safe, feasible, and useful to patients and families using CIC. Ratings from caregivers of CIC patients were similar to other cohorts of caregivers facing chronic childhood conditions. Despite beliefs that the EJ format best targets adults, high satisfaction ratings among patients suggest that the SC-EJ is acceptable and beneficial to children and adolescents. This web-based intervention can be a helpful clinical supplement in promoting healthy coping skills and a decreased sense of isolation among patients and families facing CIC. The unique integration of real patient and family experiences with accurate and vetted medical knowledge has the potential to enhance resiliency among viewers who use CIC.Table. Mean ratings and SDs for satisfaction and safety of the Self-Cathing Experience Journal by patients and caregivers and comparison of caregiver ratings from the cardiac and depression experience journals.aPatients using CIC (n = 22)Caregivers of patients using CIC (n = 20)Mothers of patients with cardiac disease (n = 40)Caregivers of patients with depression (n = 35)Comparison of CIC patients and caregivers (p)Comparison of caregivers (CIC, cardiac, depression) (p)Overall, how satisfied are you with the Self-Cathing Experience Journal?5 ± 1.175.55 ± 1.155.7 ± 1.85.75 ± 1.660.13290.9070Did you feel that the Self-Cathing Experience Journal was hurtful?1.15 ± 0.371.35 ± 1.351.2 ± 0.71.43 ± 1.140.50760.6219Did the Self-Cathing Experience Journal give you any sense that there are others facing similar issues?6.15 ± 1.186.21 ± 1.086.7 ± 0.76.44 ± 0.910.86480.1103Did you find it helpful to read about and see other families' experiences?6 ± 1.205.89 ± 1.245.7 ± 1.56.06 ± 1.390.77180.5449Did the Self-Cathing Experience Journal increase your sense of hope?4.95 ± 1.705.11 ± 1.765.1 ± 1.95.44 ± 1.420.76610.6518CIC = clean intermittent catheterization, used in self-catheterization.aBased on 1-7 Likert scale (1 = not at all, 4 = moderate, 7 = extremely).