The effects of a preassessment clinic on nonattendance rates for day-case colonoscopy.
OBJECTIVE
Nonattendance for colonoscopy contributes to an increase in the waiting lists for this procedure. Preassessment clinics routinely run for a number of day-patient surgical procedures have been shown to reduce nonattendance rates by enhancing patient understanding. This study aimed to determine prospectively whether preassessing patients booked for colonoscopy would lead to a reduction in the nonattendance rate.


METHODS
Nonattendance rates for colonoscopy were assessed in consecutive 9-month periods. During the first period all patients were mailed appointments for colonoscopy with dietary and purgative bowel preparation instructions. During the second period, patients who had never previously undergone a colonoscopic examination were invited to attend a preassessment clinic, while patients who had attended for colonoscopy in the past were sent appointments and purgative instructions in the post.


RESULTS
344 colonoscopies were booked in the first 9-month period and 350 in the second, of which 195 were preassessed. Overall, 60 patients did not attend for colonoscopy during the first 9-month period (17.4%), and 40 (11.4%; P<0.05) did not attend during the second period of study. During the second 9 months only six (3.1%) of the 195 preassessed patients did not attend for colonoscopy, in comparison with 34 (22%; P<0.0001) of the 155 patients not preassessed.


CONCLUSIONS
By running a limited preassessment clinic for patients due for colonoscopy, we have shown a significant reduction in the nonattendance rate. If all patients were to attend for preassessment, nonattendance rates for colonoscopy might be reduced to that seen in our preassessment group (3.1%).
Tibble
J A
JA
Dept. of Medicine, Guy's, King's, St Thomas' School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK. jeremy.tibble@virginnet.co.uk
Forgacs
I
I
Bjarnason
I
I
Przemioslo
R
R
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003113:Colonoscopy; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*