title: Patients' short-term knowledge of personal polyp history inadequate despite systematic notification of results after polypectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients' memories of personal polyp characteristics have been shown to be inadequate when compared with the medical record. An accurate polyp history is necessary to adhere to guidelines. We sought to determine whether systematically informing patients of the results of their colonoscopy and pathology in a multifaceted manner could increase their knowledge of their personal polyp history.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective pilot study of 240 consecutive patients undergoing screening colonoscopy with polypectomy by a single endoscopist (B.J.H.) at a tertiary care center. All of the patients were provided with a verbal report of findings immediately after the procedure, an endoscopy report specifying polyp size and number, and a mailed letter specifying the pathology results of their polyps. Telephone contact was attempted for all of the patients. Patients were asked to recall the size, number, and histology of their polyps.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred (42%) of the patients completed the telephone survey. Forty patients remembered the polyp number; five remembered their polyp histology, and one recalled the polyp size. None of the patients recalled all three factors, although patients who recalled telling a family member the results of the colonoscopy were more likely to recall at least one polyp descriptor (relative risk 2.62 [95% confidence interval 1.01-6.83]). No other variables were associated with polyp recall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients' knowledge of personal polyp characteristics, even after systematic notification, does not seem adequate for determining the best guideline-based colonoscopy surveillance interval. Discussing results with family members may help.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA. brockas@musc.edu
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Brock
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romagnuolo
authors.forename: Brenda J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hoffman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013022:South Carolina; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone