Nationwide initiative to transform catheter care in aged care facilities
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A major research initiative has been launched to address the challenges of catheter care in Australian aged care facilities, where over 20,000 residents currently require catheter support.
The National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) has unveiled its three-year IDC-IMPROVE project, aimed at revolutionising care for residents with indwelling urinary catheters (IDCs). The initiative comes in response to data from the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding model, which revealed that 8% of aged care residents needed catheter support in 2022-23.
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Medical Research Future Fund, the project has developed a comprehensive suite of resources to enhance catheter care delivery. These include specialised online courses for both registered nurses and personal care workers, focusing on person-centred care approaches.
The project’s innovative toolkit includes:
- An online course for registered and enrolled nurses about person-centred IDC care
- An online course for personal care workers about person-centred IDC care
- A ‘Catheter Care Toolkit’ for managers/senior leaders
- A ‘Catheter Care Audit Tool’
- Catheter care capabilities for nurses and personal care workers
- An evidence-to-practice support model
In a significant move to ensure practical skill development, NARI has partnered with the Continence Foundation of Australia to provide hands-on training. These site-based catheterisation skills workshops offer nurses the opportunity to practice and refine their techniques in a controlled environment.
The project is now entering its evaluation phase through a multi-centre trial involving 24 residential aged care homes across Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. This randomised control feasibility trial will assess the practicality and effectiveness of the new resources in real-world settings.
Healthcare providers and aged care facilities interested in participating in this groundbreaking initiative can learn more by visiting NARI’s website or contacting Dr Joan Ostaszkiewicz, the Clinical Gerontology Program Manager.
The project, recently featured in the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, demonstrates NARI’s commitment to enhancing the quality of care in Australia’s aged care sector through evidence-based, practical solutions.
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
