This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (34)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Which Procedure Is Preferred by Patients?

Michael M. Van Ness, MD; Sarkis J. Chobanian, MD; Charles Winters, Jr, MD; Anna Mae Diehl, MD; Regina L. Esposito; Edward L. Cattau, Jr, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1987;147(12):2175-2176.

Abstract
• To our knowledge, no previous study has addressed the question of which method of evaluation of the lower gastrointestinal tract is preferred by patients, air-contrast barium enema or colonoscopy. Over a four-month period, we asked 189 consecutive patients who had undergone colonoscopy to express their preference for either air-contrast barium enema or colonoscopy. A clear preference for colonoscopy was expressed by our patients in terms of comfort and polyp detection despite higher cost. Time lost from work and post-procedure constipation were significantly less for colonoscopy than for barium enema. These factors should be considered in the evaluation of suspected lower gastrointestinal tract disease.

(Arch Intern Med 1987;147:2175-2176)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Naval Hospital, and Digestive Diseases Division, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md. Dr Winters is now in private practice in Madison, Tenn, and Dr Cattau is now with the Gastroenterology Division, Georgetown University, Washington, DC.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Sept 8,1987.

The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private ones of the authors and are not to be construed as official policy or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.

Reprint requests to Box 301, Naval Hospital, Bethesda, MD 20814-5011 (Dr Van Ness).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Acceptance by Patients of Multidetector CT Colonography Compared with Barium Enema Examinations, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy, and Colonoscopy
Taylor et al.
Am. J. Roentgenol. 2003;181:913-921.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Colonic Masses: Detection with MR Colonography
Luboldt et al.
Radiology 2000;216:383-388.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Double-Contrast Barium Enema for Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Review of the Issues and a Comparison with Other Screening Alternatives
Glick
Am. J. Roentgenol. 2000;174:1529-1537.
FULL TEXT