A Novel Text Message Protocol to Improve Bowel Preparation for Outpatient Colonoscopies in Veterans

Overview

Journal Fed Pract

Specialty Health Services

Date 2023 Apr 7

PMID 37025984

Authors

Susan Lou

Morgan Freeman

Nicha Wongjarupong

Anders Westanmo

Amy Gravely

Shahnaz Sultan

Aasma Shaukat

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The current gold standard for screening for colorectal cancer is colonoscopy, a procedure that depends on the quality of bowel preparation. In 2016, the Veterans Health Administration introduced Annie, a text message service to improve health care communication with patients. The Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center conducted a prospective, single center study to measure the impact of Annie text messaging on patient satisfaction and quality of bowel preparation for patients undergoing outpatient colonoscopy.

Methods: Patients undergoing colonoscopy were divided into 2 groups. The control group received standardized patient education and a phone call prior to procedure. The intervention group, consisting of all patients who agreed to enroll, received a 6-day Annie text messaging protocol consisting of key bowel preparation steps that started 5 days prior to their scheduled procedure. Bowel preparation quality was measured using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) score.

Results: During the study period, 688 veterans were scheduled for outpatient colonoscopy: 484 veterans were in the control group, 204 veterans were in the intervention group, and 126 were surveyed. Annie text messaging instructions were associated with a higher BBPS score (8.2) compared with usual care (7.8); = .007 using independent test, and = .002 using parametric independent test. Patients also reported satisfaction with the Annie text messaging service.

Conclusions: There was a statistically significant improvement in the average BBPS score in veterans receiving Annie text messages compared with the routine care control group for outpatient colonoscopies.

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