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Willingness to Undergo Split-Dose Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy and Compliance with Split-Dose Instructions

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Abstract

Background

Split-dose bowel preparations for colonoscopy have superior effectiveness compared with giving all the preparation the evening before colonoscopy. Some physicians believe that split-dose preparations would be unpopular with patients scheduled for early morning colonoscopies.

Aims

To determine the willingness of potential patients to undergo split-dose bowel preparation for colonoscopy and the actual adherence of colonoscopy patients to split-dose instructions.

Methods

We performed a survey of esophagogastroduodenoscopy patients and drivers of colonoscopy patients asking whether they would accept split-dose preparations for early morning colonoscopy appointments. We also asked colonoscopy patients scheduled in the early morning if they had complied with the written preparation instructions.

Results

Of the 300 individuals surveyed, the majority (85%) stated they would be willing to get up during the night to take the second dose of preparation. Of 107 colonoscopy patients with early morning appointments, 78% actually got up during the night to take the second dose of preparation.

Conclusions

Acceptance of and compliance with split-dose bowel preparations is high and should not be a deterrent to prescribing split-dose preparations for colonoscopy.

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Acknowledgments

Douglas K. Rex—Braintree Laboratories—Research Support; C.B. Fleet Co.—Consultant. The other authors have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    R. Zackary Unger, Sable P. Amstutz, Da Hea Seo, Melanie Huffman & Douglas K. Rex

  2. Indiana University Hospital #4100, 550 N. University Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Douglas K. Rex

Authors
  1. R. Zackary Unger
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  2. Sable P. Amstutz
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  3. Da Hea Seo
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  4. Melanie Huffman
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  5. Douglas K. Rex
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Douglas K. Rex.

Appendix

Appendix

Willingness to undergo split-dose bowel preparation survey

  1. 1.

    Have you ever had a colonoscopy? Yes _____ No ______

  2. 2.

    Age _____ Gender _____ Having EGD _____ Driver _____

  3. 3.

    Recent studies have proven that taking one half of the prescribed bowel laxative preparation for colonoscopy on the same day as the colonoscopy (usually about 4–5 h prior to the scheduled time) improves the quality of the bowel preparation. The alternative is to take the entire prep the night before. If the colon is well cleaned there are several benefits: (1) any polyps you have are more likely to be found by the doctor; (2) your doctor is more likely to recommend a long period of time (for example 5–10 years) before you need a repeat colonoscopy. Given this information, and assuming that you are scheduled at 7 or 8:00 a.m. for a colonoscopy, please answer this question:

  4. 1.

    Would you be willing to get up at 2 or 3:00 a.m. to take the second half of the preparation?

Yes _____ No _____

  1. 2.

    Assuming that you take the second half of the preparation several hours before you are scheduled, which appointment time would you prefer?

Early morning (7–8 a.m.) _____

Mid morning (9–10 a.m.) _____

Late morning (11 a.m.–noon) _____

Early afternoon (1–2 p.m.) _____

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Unger, R.Z., Amstutz, S.P., Seo, D.H. et al. Willingness to Undergo Split-Dose Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy and Compliance with Split-Dose Instructions. Dig Dis Sci 55, 2030–2034 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-009-1092-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-009-1092-x

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