This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 1352458508098599v1 15/3/379    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Vahter, L Articles by Gross-Paju, K Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vahter, L Articles by Gross-Paju, K Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Clean intermittent self-catheterization in persons with multiple sclerosis: the influence of cognitive dysfunction

Estonian MS Centre, West-Tallinn Central Hospital, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia; Estonian MS Centre, West-Tallinn Central Hospital, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia liina.vahter{at}ltkh.ee

I Zopp

Institute of Psychology, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia

M Kreegipuu

Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

P Kool

Department of Paediatrics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

T Talvik

Unit of Neurology, Tartu University Hospital Children’s Clinic, Tartu, Estonia; Unit of Neurology, Tartu University Hospital Children’s Clinic, Tartu, Estonia

K Gross-Paju

Institute of Psychology, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia

Background

Bladder problems are very common in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of PwMS to learn clean intermittent self-catheterization (CISC).

Methods

The physical disability of 23 PwMS was evaluated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and cognitive status was evaluated with the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB-N). CISC was taught by the same continence advisor who was blinded to the cognitive test results. The ability to learn CISC was evaluated immediately after sessions and 3 months later. Twenty-three consecutive PwMS participated in the study.

Results

In all, 87% (20/23) of the PwMS successfully finished CISC training. The number of lessons needed to acquire CISC skills differed significantly depending on the EDSS (Spearman r = 0.682, P = 0.0003), but the total cognitive decline subscore did not influence the ability to learn CISC. Only 13% (3/23) of the PwMS failed to learn CISC. The ability to learn CISC depended on the number of lessons needed to acquire CISC (r = –0.499, P = 0.0313) and the EDSS score (r = –0.433, P = 0.0390) but not on the course of the disease (r = 0.125, P = 0.5696) or on cognitive decline (r = –0.311, P = 0.1480). After 3 months of follow-up, 30% (6/20) of the PwMS had ceased performing CISC. A follow-up indicated no statistically significant correlations among any of the subscores of the cognitive test battery, the EDSS score, the course of the disease, and the time required to learn CISC and effective bladder management.

Conclusions

Our study thus confirmed that most (87%) PwMS were able to learn CISC in spite of cognitive dysfunction and therefore to improve their quality of life.

Key Words: bladder management • clean intermittent self-catheterization • cognitive dysfunction • multiple sclerosis • rehabilitation

This version was published on March 1, 2009

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 15, No. 3, 379-384 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1352458508098599


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?