title: The Offer of Advanced Imaging Techniques Leads to Higher Acceptance Rates for Screening Colonoscopy - a Prospective Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colonoscopy plays a fundamental role in early diagnosis and management of colorectal cancer and requires public and professional acceptance to ensure the ongoing success of screening programs. The aim of the study was to prospectively assess whether patient acceptance rates to undergo screening colonoscopy could be improved by the offer of advanced imaging techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overall, 372 randomly selected patients were prospectively included. A standardized questionnaire was developed that inquired of the patients their knowledge regarding advanced imaging techniques. Second, several media campaigns and information events were organized reporting about advanced imaging techniques, followed by repeated evaluation. After one year the evaluation ended.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, 64% of the patients declared that they had no knowledge about new endoscopic methods. After twelve months the overall grade of information increased significantly from 14% at baseline to 34%. The percentage of patients who decided to undergo colonoscopy because of the offer of new imaging methods also increased significantly from 12% at baseline to 42% after 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients were highly interested in the offer of advanced imaging techniques. Knowledge about these techniques could relatively easy be provided using local media campaigns. The offer of advanced imaging techniques leads to higher acceptance rates for screening colonoscopies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany E-mail : heinz.albrecht@uk-erlangen.de.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gallitz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hable
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vieth
authors.forename: Gian Eugenio
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Tontini
authors.forename: Markus Friedrich
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Neurath
authors.forename: Jurgen Ferdinand
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Riemann
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neumann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000523:psychology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000523:psychology*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires