Information seeking and anxiety among colonoscopy-naïve adults: Direct-to-colonoscopy vs traditional consult-first pathways

Table 1 Background characteristics of patients and colonoscopy processes comparing direct to colonoscopy and pre-procedure consult

	Direct (n = 139)	Consult (n = 270)
	% (95%CI)	% (95%CI)
Highest level of education
High school or less	35 (27-43)	37 (31-43)
Trade or non-university certificate	29 (21-37)	35 (29-41)
University	36 (28-44)	28 (23-33)
Marital status - married	60%	62%
Internet user	81%	81%
Used internet to learn about colonoscopy	29%	32%
Patient indication screening	n = 76	n = 117
% of screening high risk	60 (48-72)	49 (40-58)
Patient indication symptoms	n = 63	n = 153
Bloating	86 (77-95)	78 (70-86)
Diarrhea	78 (68-88)	68 (60-76)
Abdominal cramps and/or pain	76 (65-87)	72 (64-80)
Constipation	54 (42-66)	61 (52-70)
Blood in stool	50 (38-62)	37 (28-46)
Nausea or vomiting	35 (23-47)	35 (26-44)
Weight loss	30 (19-41)	36 (27-45)
Pre-procedure information
Telephone contact	69 (58-80)	48 (39-57)
Written information	94%	96%
Age in years mean (IQR)	56 (54-58)	54 (53-56)
Sex - female	59%	57%

Bolded values indicate pairs for which confidence intervals do not overlap. IQR: Interquartile range.

Table 2 Most important sources of information for learning about colonoscopy comparing direct to colonoscopy and pre-procedure consult care pathways

	Most important		Among top three most important
	Direct	Consult	Direct	Consult
	% (95%CI)	% (95%CI)	% (95%CI)	% (95%CI)
Any physician	51 (43-59)	69 (63-75)	81 (75-88)	89 (85-93)
Family physician	37 (29-45)	26 (21-31)	59 (51-67)	39 (33-45)
Specialist physician	14 (8-20)	43 (37-49)	22 (15-29)	50 (44-56)
Family and friends	13 (7-19)	10 (6-14)	64 (56-72)	53 (47-59)
Internet	7 (3-11)	4 (2-6)	20 (13-27)	18 (13-23)
Other	3 (0-6)	3 (1-5)	20 (13-27)	13 (9-17)

Bolded values indicate pairs for which CI do not overlap. Note: Participants reviewed 10 potential sources of information and ranked the three most important.

Table 3 Use of the internet to answer questions about colonoscopy by regular internet users (n = 301) comparing care pathway and indication

	Care pathway		Indication
	Direct (n = 104)	Consult (n = 197)	Screening (n = 166)	Symptoms (n = 135)
	% (95%CI)	% (95%CI)	% (95%CI)	% (95%CI)
What is a colonoscopy	29 (20-38)	32 (26-39)	23 (16-31)	38 (31-46)
How to prepare for colonoscopy	16 (8-23)	24 (17-30)	15 (9-22)	26 (19-33)
What happens during colonoscopy	20 (12-28)	26 (19-32)	17 (10-24)	30 (22-37)
How much time does a colonoscopy take	13 (6-19)	20 (14-26)	14 (8-20)	21 (15-28)
What to expect after colonoscopy	11 (5-18)	18 (12-24)	12 (6-18)	19 (13-26)
Why colonoscopy is done	30 (21-40)	28 (22-35)	19 (12-26)	37 (29-45)
Risks of colonoscopy	19 (11-27)	22 (16-28)	16 (10-23)	25 (18-32)
What is a biopsy	11 (5-18)	14 (9-19)	9 (4-14)	17 (11-23)
Saw video of colonoscopy	24 (15-33)	17 (11-22)	19 (12-25)	20 (13-26)

Bolded values indicate pairs for which confidence interval do not overlap.

Table 4 Bowel preparation, time off work and sedation used for colonoscopy comparing direct to colonoscopy and pre-procedure consult pathways

	Direct (n = 139)	Consult (n = 270)
	% (95%CI)	% (95%CI)
Bowel prep
Picosulfate and magnesium oxide	69 (60-76)	71(65-77)
Polyethylene glycol	17 (11-24)	14 (10-18)
Other	14 (8-20)	15 (11-19)
Completion of bowel prep	98%	98%
Time off work for bowel prep
Full-time workers (n = 188)	56 (43-69)	64 (56-72)
Part-time workers (n = 52)	42 (20-64)	50 (29-71)
Sedation
Midazolam (mg)	5.6 (5.2-5.9)	4.7 (4.5-4.9)
Fentanyl (μg)	106 (100-111)	93 (89-97)

Bolded values indicate pairs for which confidence intervals do not overlap.