ISRCTN ISRCTN68472863
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN68472863
Secondary identifying numbers 20506
Submission date
09/03/2016
Registration date
10/03/2016
Last edited
12/08/2019
Recruitment status
Stopped
Overall study status
Stopped
Condition category
Urological and Genital Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Intermittent (‘in-out’) catheterisation is a technique used by people who have difficulty emptying their bladder. It involves a thin tube being passed into the bladder via the urethra (the tube through which urine passes) so that the urine in the bladder can be drained when needed (intermittently). Traditionally, intermittent catheters could be cleaned and reused, often for several days or longer (multi-use catheters). Since then, catheters have been developed that are intended to be used once only and then thrown away (single-use). Most people in the UK use single-use catheters now and multi-use catheters are not readily available any more. One of the most common complications of intermittent catheterisation is that users often develop urinary tract infections, UTIs (water infections). Many believe that using multi-use catheters is more likely to cause UTIs, however there is little research supporting this claim. The aim of this study is to find out whether using a mixture of multi-use catheters and single-use catheters (mixed-use) is just as safe as using only single-use catheters, and whether it is acceptable to users.

Who can participate?
Patients aged 16 and over, who are currently using or are planning to use intermittent catheterisation for the next 12 months.

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group are asked to use single-use catheters only over a course of 12 months. Those in the second group are asked to use a mixture of multi-use and single-use catheters for the same length of time. Participants in this group are taught about safe catheter cleaning and storage techniques. Once a month during the study, participants are interviewed by a research nurse over the telephone about any UTI symptoms experienced in the past month. At the end of the study, the amount of UTIs experienced by patients in each group is compared.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration.

Where is the study run from?
University College London (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2016 to March 2017

Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)

Who is the main contact?
1. Ms Margaret Macaulay (public)
2. Dr Alexander von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff (scientific)

Study website

Contact information

Ms Margaret Macaulay
Public

University of Southampton
Southampton
-
United Kingdom

Dr Alexander von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff
Scientific

Newcastle University
Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit
1-4 Claremont Terrace
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 4AE
United Kingdom

Study information

Study designMulti-centre randomised parallel trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised parallel trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleDevelopment and Clinical Trial of a Mixed (Multi/Single-use) Catheter Management Package for Users of Intermittent Catheterisation (The MultICath Study)
Study acronymMultICath
Study objectivesThe aim of this study is to find out whether using a mixture of single-use and multi-use catheters is acceptable to users and no more likely to cause urinary tract infection or other problems than using single-use catheters only.
Ethics approval(s)15/SC/0433
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedTopic: Primary Care, Renal; Subtopic: Primary Care (Renal Disorders), Renal (Renal Disorders); Disease: All Diseases, All Renal Disorders
InterventionParticipants are randomly allocated to one of two groups.

Group 1: Participants use a mixture of single-use and multi-use catheters for 12 months.
Group 2: Participants use single-use catheters only for 12 months.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureSymptomatic urinary tract infection rate rate is measured over 12 months through monthly telephone interviews.
Secondary outcome measuresNot provided at time of registration
Overall study start date01/03/2016
Completion date31/03/2017
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)Objectives no longer viable

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit16 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participantsPlanned Sample Size: 500; UK Sample Size: 500
Key inclusion criteria1. Aged 16 years and over
2. Intermittent catheterisation planned to continue for 12 months
3. Able and willing to adhere to a 12-month follow up period
4. Currently using or preparing to start using intermittent catheterisation (via the urethra), performed by self or sole carer
5. Patient has provided written informed consent for participation in the study prior to any study specific procedures
Key exclusion criteria1. Aged below 16 years
2. Use of IC for self-dilatation of urethral stricture (ISD) without bladder drainage
3. Non-urethral route for catheterisation e.g. Mitrofanoff
4. External carer required for IC (i.e. where sterile technique and catheter is required e.g. visiting community nurse performs IC)
5. Inability to give informed consent or have primary outcome information collected
6. Women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breast feeding during the trial
Date of first enrolment01/03/2016
Date of final enrolment31/03/2017

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

University College London
Department of Medicine Clerkenwell building
Archway Campus
2-10 Highgate Hill
London
N19 5LW
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University of Southampton
University/education

University Road
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
England
United Kingdom

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/01ryk1543

Funders

Funder type

Government

National Institute for Health Research
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
National Institute for Health Research, NIHR Research, NIHRresearch, NIHR - National Institute for Health Research, NIHR (The National Institute for Health and Care Research), NIHR
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/03/2018
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

12/08/2019: The trial was halted in September 2016 to obtain a CE marked reusable catheter for use in the trial.
09/08/2019: The public contact's details have been updated.
18/10/2017: Internal review.