Patients' decision making between colonic investigations
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patients' decision making in choosing between colonic investigation alternatives
IRAS ID
289081
Contact name
Campbell MacLeod
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Highland
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 2 days
Research summary
Patients may need to undergo bowel investigations for many different reasons. Most commonly it is due to new symptoms related to their bowel such as a change in their bowel habit or noticing blood in their stool. Colonoscopy is the most common method for investigating the bowel. It involves inserting a long flexible camera into the bottom to look inside the large bowel. Unfortunately, colonoscopy is invasive, can be painful for many patients and currently has significant waiting times.
Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) is a new, painless method for investigating the bowel currently being introduced in the UK as an alternative to colonoscopy. The test involves swallowing a pill containing a camera at each end which takes pictures of the bowel wall. This new test can be carried out closer to patients’ homes and once the capsule is administered patients can return home to complete the procedure. Patients undergoing CCE are required to take strong laxatives to clean the bowel. The volume of laxatives required for CCE is greater and taken over a longer period than that required for colonoscopy.
Given the different attributes of these tests, we plan to interview patients to better understand how they compare these tests to decide which they would rather undergo if required. No research to date has collected interview data from patients comparing these tests capturing patients views on the decision-making process. The results of this research will be used to carry out further studies to improve our understanding of what factors are important for patients so they can be better informed about tests and so that tests can be improved according to what patients think is important.REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/PR/0925
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jan 2021
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion