Pediatric ALL
Conditions
Brief summary
The investigators developed a smartphone app that guides pediatric patients and their families through colonoscopy prep in an attempt to see if an app could improve the colonoscopy process.
Detailed description
The investigators created a smartphone app designed for pediatric patients and their families that informs patients about their colonoscopy procedure, alerts them when to take their medications throughout the hours-long colonoscopy prep process and tells them when to arrive to the endoscopy suite. The investigators designed a study to determine if this app will yield improved colonoscopy cleanouts, better patient understanding of the procedure, fewer calls to the GI service and more punctual arrival times to the endoscopy suite compared to patients who receive written instructions that do not actively interact with the patient before, during or after their colonoscopy prep.
Interventions
DEVICESmartphone App SB Colonoscopy Prep
We created a smartphone app that informs patients about their colonoscopy procedure, alerts them when to take their medications throughout the hours-long colonoscopy prep process and tells them when to arrive to the endoscopy suite.
OTHERWritten Instruction
Written Instruction
Sponsors
Stony Brook University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Subjects were randomly assigned via block randomization to receive either written or software-based prep instructions. To eliminate bias, the four grading gastroenterologists who judged the quality of the subject's cleanout did not know whether subjects had used written or app instructions.
Intervention model description
Subjects were randomly assigned via block randomization to receive either written or software-based prep instructions.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
5 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
\- Aged 5-18 years scheduled to undergo a diagnostic and/or therapeutic colonoscopy
Exclusion criteria
* Patients who had undergone a colonoscopy within the past one year * Patients admitted for a nasogastric (NG) cleanout * Patients requiring colonoscopy preparation medication other than Polyethylene Glycol * Patients with poor understanding of English.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone application use was associated with increased number of excellent colonoscopy preps. | Each subject was assessed from the time they were scheduled for their colonoscopy to the day of their procedure, up to three months for subjects. Subjects were scored on their colonoscopies immediately following the procedure once the patient was stable | Prep quality was measured with the validated Boston Scoring Scale. A score of 0, 1, 2 or 3 is given to the right, transverse and left colon based on the amount and consistency of stool visualized as well as the ease or difficulty of guiding endoscopic instrumentation during a colonoscopy. Higher scores indicate a cleaner colon and as per Lai, a Boston Score of 7 or above indicates an excellent prep. To eliminate bias, the four grading gastroenterologists did not know whether subjects had used written or app instructions. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The difference in the number of calls to the gastroenterology service between app users and controls. | Each subject was assessed from the time they were scheduled for their colonoscopy to the day of their procedure, up to three months for subjects | Calls to the GI service were recorded by the GI staff. |
| The difference between app users and controls regarding patient arrival time. | Each subject was assessed from the time they were scheduled for their colonoscopy to the day of their procedure, up to three months for subjects | Patient arrival time was taken from the patients arrival time in the endoscopy suite. |
| The significant difference between app users and controls regarding patient knowledge about the procedure. | Each subject was assessed from the time they were scheduled for their colonoscopy to the day of their procedure, up to three months for subjects | A questionnaire with validated questions determined whether subjects improvement their knowledge before and after receiving colonoscopy information. |
Outcome results
None listed