Minerva Gastroenterology 2021 Apr 01

DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5985.21.02766-5

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

A comprehensive intervention to enhance inpatient colon preparation quality for colonoscopy

Andrew J. GAWRON ¹, Brian HORNER ², Rudi ZURBUCHEN ¹, Kathleen BOYNTON ¹, John FANG ¹ ✉

¹ University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; ² Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, Cheyenne, WY, USA

BACKGROUND: Adequate colon preparation is a critical component of high quality colonoscopy especially for inpatients undergoing colonoscopy for acute indications. Inpatient colonoscopy has a high incidences of inadequate preparations. We report implementation of a multifaceted quality improvement intervention to improve inpatient colonoscopy preparations.
METHODS: Bowel preparation quality from inpatient colonoscopies performed for the 12 months prior to the comprehensive intervention were compared to colonoscopies performed for 12 months following the intervention. The intervention had multiple components including: EMR-based colonoscopy preparation order set; Automated EMR alerts prompting nursing assessment of preparation progress; Standardized nursing charting processes for tracking preparation progress; Standardized education for nursing staff and ordering providers on adequate colon preparation, assessment of colon preparation quality, and use of the above processes; and print and video patient education materials.
RESULTS: 238 inpatient colonoscopies were performed in the pre-intervention assessment period and 163 colonoscopies in the post-intervention period. Median pre-intervention Boston Bowel Preparation Score (BBPS) was 6 and 26% of patients had inadequate colon preparation. Median postintervention BBPS was 8 with 16% inadequate colon preparation (p=0.016). The postintervention group had less ASA class I patients and used a lower dose of fentanyl than the preintervention group. There were no other significant differences between the pre- and postintervention groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a comprehensive colon preparation quality intervention resulted in significantly improved inpatient colon preparation quality and decreased frequency of inadequate preparations. The intervention consisting of an EMR-based order-set, nursing alerts and charting process, and patient education materials is continually being refined.

KEY WORDS: Colonoscopy; Bowel preparation; Colonoscopy quality; Inpatient colonoscopy