Understanding the strategies used by paraplegics in transfers to the bathroom and management of neurogenic bladder

Abstract

The aim was to understand the adaptive strategies used by people with spinal cord injuries when performing toilet transfers and managing their neurogenic bladder. This was a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, supported by Adaptive Nursing. Seventeen community-dwelling individuals with paraplegia were included and interviewed. Qualitative data were processed using appropriate software, using content analysis. Two categories emerged: adaptive strategies for toilet transfer performance and Adaptive strategies for managing their neurogenic bladder, both inside and outside the home, even when faced with the threat of contamination. Participants are left unassisted in the community due to a lack of guidance on the safe performance of these procedures, improvising their strategies with available resources. Some have not even had access to rehabilitation programs, nor have any connection with them, as well as with primary health care services, which compromises their health and quality of life in the short, medium, and long term. In this sense, nurses can be decisive in assuming a leadership role in the care of these people, as they work in the various spheres of health services where they are treated.