The effect of resident peer-to-peer education on compliance with urinary catheter placement indications in the emergency department

ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the effect of resident peer-to-peer education on knowledge of appropriate urinary catheter (UC) placement in the emergency department (ED) and to determine if this translates into further reduction in UC utilisation.BackgroundInstituting guidelines for appropriate UC placement reduces UC utilisation in the ED. No study has explored if resident education in a teaching hospital would further reduce UC utilisation.MethodsAn educational intervention implemented in February 2009 consisted of a lecture, distribution of pocket cards and a peer-administered weekly review of institutional UC guidelines. A 12-question multiple-choice test was given to residents prelecture and postlecture, and the 12-question test was repeated 3 months later. Retrospective chart review was performed to evaluate UC utilisation before, immediately after and 3 months after the educational intervention.Results30 residents completed all three tests. Significant differences were found between the mean test score pre-education and the mean test score immediately after education (9.43±1.17 vs 10.87±1.46, p