A comparison of patient acceptance and preferences between CT colonography and conventional colonoscopy in colorectal cancer screening.
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.
Jung
Hyuk Sang
HS
Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
Park
Dong Kyun
DK
Kim
Min Ju
MJ
Yu
Sang Kyun
SK
Kwon
Kwang An
KA
Ku
Yang Suh
YS
Kim
Yu Kyung
YK
Kim
Ju Hyun
JH
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