The Intermittent Catheter Needs Assessment Tool (IC-NAT) study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Co-development and optimisation of an Intermittent Catheter Needs Assessment Tool (IC-NAT)
IRAS ID
364888
Contact name
Miriam Avery
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Around 70,000 people use intermittent catheters (IC) several times a day to empty their bladder. In England, the cost of these catheters was over £170 million in 2023/2024, making this the second highest cost group on the medical device section of the Drug Tariff in England.
Our team has been involved in national projects aiming to reduce and/or justify IC costs. These projects aim to summarise evidence on ICs with different features (NICE Project), categorise them on the Drug Tariff based on their different features (DHSC Project) and investigate catheter procurement/provision changes (NHS England Project). From this work and using findings from our MultiCath Programme, we have determined that many prescribers lack the knowledge to identify intermittent catheters that cost effectively and sustainably meet individual patient’s needs. There are over 200 different catheters available on prescription varying widely in price. However, some catheter users are not given features that might help them (e.g. specialised tips, grippers) or are given features they don’t need.This research study will take place over 21 months in England. It aims to develop an Intermittent Catheter Needs Assessment Tool (IC-NAT) to help prescribers identify catheters that best suit users’ needs and an ‘implementation plan’ to help prescribers use the IC-NAT. An IC-NAT plan will be developed using research evidence, advisory group and patient and public involvement. This will be refined into an IC-NAT prototype and an implementation plan developed through 5 Focus Groups with healthcare professionals, catheter users and service commissioners/policy makers. The IC-NAT and implementation plan will be further tested and the content refined through qualitative ‘think aloud’ interviews with IC users and healthcare professional prescribers. We anticipate we will develop an IC-NAT that can be adapted for local use and an implementation plan for use of the IC-NAT within the NHS across England.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/SC/0019
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jan 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion