Smartphone Application Improves Colonoscopy Prep

A new smartphone app can help ensure that patients undergo proper bowel preparation prior to a colonoscopy.

The app developed by clinicians at Arizona Digestive Health (Phoenix, USA) features instructions and timed alerts to help patients follow their bowel prep protocol. Patients enter the date and time of their colonoscopy and the bowel preparation medication chosen by their physician. Timed alerts then appear on the phone to remind the patient of the next step in bowel preparation. The app also explains the procedure, gives tips, and provides pictures of preparation quality.

The developers evaluated the usefulness of the app in two phases. In the first phase, prior to its release, patients were asked if they owned a smartphone: 49% of the 326 patients said they owned a smartphone, but there was no significant difference in mean Boston Bowel Preparation (BBP) score between patients with a smartphone and those without, at about 7 on a 9-point scale. In the second phase of the study, patients were given instructions on how to download the free app; in all, 52 people used the app, achieving an average bowel prep score of 8.1. A BBP score of 7 or higher is considered a good-quality prep that allows for adequate visualization of the colon.

“We know better bowel preps result in better colonoscopy exams, and the smartphone app is harnessing technology for a better healthcare outcome,” said Paul Berggreen, MD, president of Arizona Digestive Health. “There is adaptability in terms of the four bowel preps we use. It also says to avoid nuts, popcorn, and the like three days in advance. It's the same information as patients would receive in written form.”

“Getting ready for a colonoscopy is difficult and involves a lot of steps,” added app codeveloper Nilay Kavathia, MD, who is also a gastroenterology fellow at the Phoenix Veterans Administration Hospital (AZ, USA). “For patients, having an interactive, simplified, and personalized app on their phone is like having a doctor at their side throughout the process.”

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Arizona Digestive Health