title: A comparison of patient acceptance and preferences between CT colonography and conventional colonoscopy in colorectal cancer screening.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colorectal cancer, one of the most common cancers in developed countries, is curable when diagnosed at an early stage. However, for better screening, both a test that patients will tolerate and diagnostic accuracy are required. We compared patient experiences and preferences between computed tomographic (CT) colonography and conventional colonoscopy (CC) under conscious sedation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients referred to the gastrointestinal clinic for CC were enrolled to also undergo CT colonography prior to CC. After each procedure, patients completed a questionnaire in which variables, such as abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, and loss of dignity, were assessed using a 7-point Likert scale, with the highest score representing the worst experience. To verify response stability, a telephone questionnaire followed within 24 h after each procedure. Patients were then asked about their preference for CT colonography or CC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were collected from 51 patients who fulfilled all requirements, including CT colonography, CC, the two questionnaires after each procedure, and a follow-up questionnaire. Severity of abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, and a loss of dignity were reported to be higher in CT colonography than in CC (p<0.01). In addition, the preference for CC was significantly higher than that for CT colonography (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although CT colonography is a safe and noninvasive screening test for colorectal cancer, further study is required to increase patient acceptance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyuk Sang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Dong Kyun
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Min Ju
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Kyun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Kwang An
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Yang Suh
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: Yu Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ju Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires