Peter Neal Wylie MBBChir, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Parthasarathi Das MBBS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ros Ahmad, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Michele Marshall MBBS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

David Nigel Burling MBChB, Abstract Co-Author: Consultant, Medicsight, Inc Grant, E-Z-EM, Inc Grant, Bracco Group

Superior patient experience related to reduced laxative regimens is frequently cited as a major benefit of virtual colonoscopy (VC) but most questionnaires used for such assessments are not valid or were designed for endoscopy. We aimed to validate a new questionnaire for VC.

A 34 item questionnaire was created using expert opinion (including 2 VC researchers with relevant questionnaire-based publications), literature review and patient interview. 25 consecutive patients undergoing VC in routine practice (21 (84%) had sodium picosulphate/4 had senna 26 g and 100 mls gastrografin) were interviewed before their examination ‘face-to-face’ using the questionnaire. A series of open and closed questions related to ethnicity/understanding/convenience/tolerability/discomfort/anxiety/ compliance were asked. Responses were evaluated for content validity (frequency of similar responses) and following statistical advice, reliability was assessed by Spearman’s correlation (inter-item correlation) and Cronbach's alpha (test of overall questionnaire reliability/consistency).

25 patients (13 (52%) female; median age 70 years) undergoing VC completed the questionnaires. 22 patients (88%) were either very satisfied (32%) or fairly satisfied (56%) with the bowel preparation. 27 questions were deemed valid in content and frequency of endorsement. There was good inter-item correlation (Spearman’s p=-0.395–0.795) with a high level of reliability (Cronbach’s alpha=0.904) overall.

This questionnaire, developed for comparing VC bowel preparation regimens, is both valid and reliable.

This project has delivered a validated patient questionnaire designed for assessment of patient experience of bowel preparation specifically tailored towards virtual colonoscopy.

Wylie, P, Das, P, Ahmad, R, Marshall, M, Burling, D, Virtual Colonoscopy: Development and Validation of a New Patient Questionnaire for Assessment of Experience and Compliance for Bowel Preparation.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6018275.html