A QUALITATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY TO INVESTIGATE PATIENT PREFERENCE AND BARRIERS FOR THE TIMING OF BOWEL PREPARATION PRIOR TO MORNING COLONOSCOPY

Aims In the UK split preparation isn’t routinely used for morning colonoscopies despite evidence showing split dose preparation results in better quality bowel cleansing. This study aims to identify patient preference for bowel preparation timing and explore barriers and solutions for introducing split dosing for morning colonoscopy.

Methods Prospective survey-based study of patients attending endoscopy. Patients were asked to select their preference for bowel preparation timing- option A (same day), option B (split dosing) or option C (day before). Factors influencing this were explored and patients were asked their preference again following explanation for the rationale of split-preparation.

Results 304/346 patients participated in the questionnaire while attending for either morning colonoscopy (n=154) or flexible sigmoidoscopy (n=150). 58.2% (n=177) of patients initially selected day-before preparation. The main reasons given were avoiding waking up early (46.2%) and not wanting to take it before bed (20.2%). There was no statistically significant difference in patient choice when age, sex, employment status, education level or previous bowel preparation were taken into account. In those who chose day-before preparation, following education regarding the superiority of split preparation, 89.8% were open to changing. This bought the total to 97.7% who would consider split preparation ([Table 1]).

Table 1

	Split preparation	Day prior preparation
Pre patient education patient preference	41.8%	58.2%
Post patient education patient preference	97.7%	2.3%	p<0.01

Conclusions The main barrier to split preparation regimens for morning colonoscopies in the UK is related to patient preference of avoiding anti-social hours. This can be overcome following adequate patient education regarding the superiority of split dose preparation. These results can be used to implement split dose preparation more widely for morning colonoscopy procedures.

Publication History

Article published online:
14 April 2022