Individual and family self-management of genitourinary health in hospitalized men: is there room for intervention by nursing professionals?

OBJECTIVE: To analyze individual/family self-management of genitourinary health in hospitalized men and the nursing interventions observed. METHOD: Qualitative study of technological development using the Praxic Model for Technology Development. Thirty-five participants took part: 19 male patients, eight family members, and eight nursing professionals. Participant observation, the method of Reflective Thematic Content Analysis, and the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory framework were used. RESULTS: Individual self-management is marked by the experience of hospitalization, weakened in everyday life, restrictive in terms of private hygiene care, seeking medical-centered health care of medium/high complexity, self-medicated herbal medicine, tolerance of symptoms, with worsening of the urological clinical condition. There is female family support, with results that promote well-being and nursing interventions focused on performing techniques and procedures. CONCLUSION: Self-management of genitourinary health by men is enhanced by the experience of hospitalization. Men resort to and rely on family support during hospitalization, especially from their partners, whose nursing interventions are not specific, individualized, or conducive to individual and family self-management.