DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i03.010

Pages: 857-860

Urethral stricture disease is a common urologic condition which occurs mainly in men and causes obstructive voiding symptoms, often requires appropriate surgical intervention. It can present with acute urinary retention also. This condition needs catheterization either per urethral or supra-pubic. These patients lead a very poor quality of life. In our present project, we have ventured to analyze the feelings of worries and anxiety by taking a qualitative survey with measurements of anxiety level of patients suffering from urethral stricture disease who are inserted with a catheter to relieve the retention of urine. It is a qualitative survey of 43 young male patients (21-40 years age group) presented with acute urinary retention due to urethral stricture disease. We have measured the anxiety level of these patients after two weeks of insertion of catheters (pre-survey) and again two weeks after removal of catheter (post-survey) by using the the BAI (Beck’s Anxiety Inventory). Pre survey mild anxiety was present among 25 patients, moderate anxiety was present among 11 patients and severe anxiety was present among 7 patients. Post survey mild anxiety was present among 37 patients; moderate anxiety was present among 5 patients and severe anxiety was present only in one patient. The level of anxiety is lesser in most of the patients after removal of catheter. Since a catheter is imperative in this disease, it can be concluded from our study that some sort of counseling is required for all patients before and after inserting catheter in order to reduce anxiety. It would probably also be helpful to apply counseling to all patients with urethral stricture even after removal of catheter as they all suffered from at least mild degree of anxiety.