Bowel preparation experiences and needs before follow-up colonoscopy in older adult postoperative colorectal cancer patients: A qualitative study

Table 2 Themes and sub-themes of the study

Theme	Sub-theme
Inadequate knowledge about bowel preparation
Decreased physiological comfort during bowel preparation	Gastrointestinal discomfort and sleep deprivation caused by bowel cleansing agents
	Hunger caused by dietary restrictions
Psychological changes curing different stages of bowel preparation	Pre-preparation: Fear and resistance due to previous experiences
	During preparation: Irritability and helplessness caused by taking bowel cleansing agents
	Post-preparation: Anxiety and worry while waiting for the colonoscopy
Needs related to bowel preparation	Detailed instructions from healthcare professionals
	More ideal bowel cleansing agents
	Shortened waiting times for colonoscopy