Improved patient comfort and procedural efficiency using chlorhexidine-coated hydrophilic urethral catheters: a randomized controlled trial

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and convenience of a chlorhexidine-coated hydrophilic urethral catheter compared with a conventional silicone Foley catheter, focusing on patient discomfort, procedural time, and clinician satisfaction. Methods: This prospective randomized controlled study enrolled patients who required short-term urethral catheterization at two hospitals. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either a conventional urethral catheter (control group, n=64) or a chlorhexidine-coated hydrophilic urethral catheter (intervention group, n=67). The primary endpoints were patient-reported pain scores during catheter insertion and removal (pain scale, 0–10), procedural time (seconds), and clinician-reported satisfaction (0–10). Results: Patients in the intervention group reported significantly less pain during catheter insertion (mean score, 4.2 vs. 6.6; p<0.01) and removal (mean score, 2.8 vs. 4.5; p<0.01). The mean procedural time was shorter in the intervention group (215 seconds vs. 386 seconds; p<0.01), and clinician satisfaction was higher (mean score, 8.2 vs. 3.6; p<0.01). Patients in the intervention group were more likely to experience mild pain during catheter insertion (score, 0–3; 26.9% vs. 12.7%; odds ratio [OR], 2.53) and removal (score, 0–3; 83.6% vs. 42.9%; OR, 6.79). A greater proportion of procedures was completed within 150 seconds (59.7% vs. 44.4%; OR, 1.85), and clinicians reported higher satisfaction with the procedure (score, 8–10; 73.1% vs. 23.4%; OR, 8.71). Conclusion: Chlorhexidine-coated hydrophilic urethral catheters significantly reduced pain, shortened the procedural time, and improved clinician satisfaction. These findings suggest potential clinical benefits for both patients and clinicians.