Impact of reinforced education by telephone and short message service on the quality of bowel preparation: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

Background and study aims: High quality bowel preparation is essential for successful colonoscopy. This study aimed to assess the impact of reinforced education by telephone or short message service (SMS) on the quality of bowel preparation.

Patients and methods: A prospective, endoscopist-blinded, randomized, controlled study was conducted. Reinforced education groups received additional education via reminders by telephone or SMS 2 days before colonoscopy. The primary outcome was the quality of the bowel preparation according to the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS). The secondary outcomes included polyp detection rate (PDR), adenoma detection rate (ADR), tolerance, and subjective feelings of patients.

Results: A total of 390 patients were included. Total BBPS score was significantly higher in the reinforced education groups than in the control group (mean [SD] telephone vs. control: 7.1 [1.2] vs. 6.3 [1.4], P < 0.001; SMS vs. control: 6.8 [1.3] vs. 6.3 [1.4], P = 0.027). Between the two interventions, there was no significant difference in total BBPS score. PDR and ADR were not different among groups. Reinforced education groups showed lower anxiety and better tolerance compared with controls. A preparation-to-colonoscopy time of > 6 hours and < 80 % of the purgative ingested were independent factors associated with inadequate bowel preparation (BBPS < 5), whereas re-education by telephone was inversely related to inadequate bowel preparation.

Conclusion: SMS was the optimal education modality, and was as effective as telephone reminders for the quality of bowel preparation. A reinforced educational approach via telephone or SMS should be individualized, depending on the resource availability of each clinical practice.