Automatic stop orders reduced duration of indwelling urinary catheterisation in hospital
M Loeb
Dr M Loeb, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; loebm@mcmaster.ca
QUESTION
Does a strategy of automatic stop orders reduce duration of indwelling urinary catheterisation in patients in hospital?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded (patients).
Follow-up period:
until catheter removal or discharge from unit.
Setting:
7 general medical units in 3 hospitals in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Patients:
692 patients in hospital (mean age 79 y, 62% women) with an indwelling urinary catheter inserted for ⩽48 hours. Patients with symptomatic urinary tract infection or an indwelling catheter inserted in the 10 days before hospital admission were excluded.
Intervention:
automatic stop orders to remove the catheter if the patient did not meet any of 6 criteria for appropriate catheterisation (urinary obstruction, …
