Risk factors for underestimation of patient pain in outpatient colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Adequate management of patient pain and discomfort during colonoscopy is crucial to obtaining a high-quality examination. We aimed to investigate the ability of endoscopists and endoscopy assistants to accurately assess patient pain in colonoscopy. METHODS: This was a single-center, cross-sectional study including patients scheduled for an outpatient colonoscopy. Procedure-related pain, as experienced by the patient, was scored on a verbal rating scale (VRS). Endoscopists and endoscopy assistants rated patient pain likewise. Cohen's kappa was used to measure the agreement between ratings and logistic regression applied to test for potential predictors associated with underestimation of moderate-severe pain. RESULTS: In total, 785 patients [median age: 54 years; females: n = 413] were included. Mild, moderate, and severe pain was reported in 378/785 (48%), 168/785 (22%), and 111/785 (14%) procedures respectively. Inter-rater reliability of patient pain comparing patients with endoscopists was κ = 0.29, p < .001 and for patients with endoscopy assistants κ = 0.37, p < .001. In the 279 patients reporting moderate/severe pain, multivariable analysis showed that male gender (OR = 1.79), normal BMI (OR = 1.71), no history of abdominal surgery (OR = 1.81), and index-colonoscopy (OR = 1.81) were factors significantly associated with a risk for underestimation of moderate/severe pain by endoscopists. Young age (OR = 2.05) was the only corresponding factor valid for endoscopy assistants. CONCLUSIONS: In a colonoscopy, estimation of patient pain by endoscopists and endoscopy assistants is often inaccurate. Endoscopists need to pay specific attention to subgroups of patients, such as male gender, and normal BMI, among whom there seems to be an important risk of underestimation of moderate-severe pain.

Undergoing repeated colonoscopies - experiences from patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) undergo repeated colonoscopies to monitor their lifelong disease.Objective: To describe experiences from repeated colonoscopies in patients with IBD.Methods: Within a qualitative design 33 patients with IBD who had undergone at least three colonoscopies were interviewed by telephone. Hermeneutic interpretation served as the framework of the analysis.Results: The colonoscopy procedure was explained as strenuous to undergo and interfered with daily life. It reminded patients of a lifelong disease, but the necessity of the colonoscopy, being life-saving, was highlighted. The colonoscopies entailed several unpredictable aspects - no control over pain, potential blame and unpredictable care. Shame, inferiority and uncertainty enhanced the feeling of being exposed and vulnerable.Conclusion: Repeated colonoscopies can be perceived as both an assurance of life and a reminder of a lifelong illness. Healthcare professionals need to provide support in terms of awareness of patients' vulnerability, despite extensive experience of the colonoscopy procedure. For example, person-centred care and continuity in care are potential interventions based on the results of this study. Another important aspect of care is to minimise interference in everyday life to prevent feelings of loss of the healthy self, for example by self-administrated outpatient booking systems.Summarize the established knowledge on this subject. • Previous research in quality related to colonoscopy has mainly focused on technical and medical aspects. • Knowledge based on the patients' perspective is rare and the few existing studies included mainly persons included in screening programs.What are the significant and/or new findings of this study? • Patients with IBD undergoing repeated colonoscopies express specific needs in several aspects related to the colonoscopy procedure: • Continuity and a person-centered approach from healthcare professionals. • Support to cope with feelings of shame and inferiority as well as pain.