Who can take part in the Trial?

You can take part if you:

• are at least 18 years old
• are currently using intermittent catheterisation (via the urethra) 
• catheterise yourself or have help from a 'sole' carer (a relative, friend or nurse who only takes care of you)
• have been doing intermittent catheterisation for six weeks or more
• expect your use of intermittent catheterisation to continue for at least 12 months
• are able and willing to remain in the study for 12 months - this will include receiving monthly phone calls from a Research Nurse and providing information about your experiences of intermittent catheterisation and sending regular urine specimens
• provide written informed consent for participation in the study

Unfortunately you cannot take part if you:

• are less than 18 years old
• use intermittent catheterisation for dilatation of a urethral stricture only, without bladder drainage
• do not use a urethral route for catheterisation – for example you use a Mitrofanoff stoma
• have your intermittent catheterisation done by a visiting health care provider such as a community nurse who also visits other patients
• are unable to give informed consent or provide information over the phone about your experience of intermittent catheterisation
• are an employee or relation of an employee of a manufacturer or distributor of intermittent catheters
• are pregnant, or plan to get pregnant during the trial
• taking part in another trial
• in the late stages of a terminal illness

This website refers to independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) Programme (Grant Reference Number RP-PG-0610-10078). The views expressed are those of the research team and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.