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PATIENT PREFERENCES QUESTIONNAIRE FOR SCREENING COLONOSCOPY: SAME DAY CONSULT AND PROCEDURE
L Oliveira, R Sy
Division of Gastroenterology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
Colorectal cancer screening in average risk patients requires significant resources. One strategy to decrease colonoscopy waiting times is to book patients directly for screening colonoscopy without a prior initial consultation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether average risk patients accept the practice of having a colonoscopy and initial consultation with a gastroenterologist on the same day.
METHODS: Average risk patients from a gastroenterology practice were asked to complete a questionnaire after their appointment and colonoscopy were completed for colon cancer screening between January 1, 2005 and July 1, 2007. Some of the patients had a consultation and colonoscopy on the same day (SD method) and some patients had their consultation first followed by a colonoscopy on another date (different day or DD method). The questionnaire included patient demographic questions as well as questions assessing the knowledge of the patient regarding colon cancer screening and questions assessing whether the patient prefers to have the initial consultation and colonoscopy on separate days or on the same day.
RESULTS: 125 patients participated in the survey. The mean age of the patients was 60.1 y and 66% were male. Among the 125 patients, 20.8% had the DD method and 79.2% had the SD method. Patient age, ethnic background, education level, knowledge of colon cancer and prior information received regarding colonoscopy did not affect patient preference. Among all categorical factors, preferences were significantly affected only by the method of consultation the patient had already had. 85.9% of patients who had the SD method preferred this compared to 38.5% of patients who had the DD method (p<0.001). 61.5% of patients who had the DD method preferred the same thing compared to 11.1% of patients who had the SD method (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Having a consult with a gastroenterologist on the same day as a colonoscopy, is an acceptable practice to patients. In this study, the surveys were given to the patients after the procedure and their preference was affected by their prior experience.