The Impact of Indwelling Urinary Catheter Use on Activities of Daily Living in Hospitalized Patients: A Scoping Review

Indwelling urinary catheters are widely used in hospitalized patients who have difficulty voiding independently. Although prior research has focused mainly on physical complications such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections and trauma, catheter use may also restrict patients’ daily functioning by limiting mobility, ambulation, transfers, toileting, dressing, and other self-care activities. Discomfort and psychological burdens (e.g., embarrassment and reduced motivation) may further reduce opportunities to engage in activities of daily living (ADL) during hospitalization. This scoping review aims to comprehensively map the existing evidence on the impact of indwelling urinary catheter use on ADL and ADL-related functional outcomes in hospitalized adult patients in healthcare facilities. We will search PubMed and EBSCOhost databases (CINAHL with Full Text, MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, ERIC) from inception to July 2025. Eligible empirical studies will be screened independently by three reviewers. Data will be extracted in a structured format (e.g., ADL measures such as the Barthel Index or FIM, domain-specific mobility outcomes, timing of assessments, and key findings) and synthesized narratively to describe research trends, reported limitations in daily functioning, and gaps in the literature. Findings will inform nursing interventions that support functional independence alongside infection prevention.