Endoscopy or radiography?—the patient's choice. Prospective comparative survey of patient acceptability of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and radiography

• Published in: The American journal of medicine Vol. 80; no. 2; pp. 203 - 207
• Main Authors: Dooley, Cornelius P., Weiner, John M., Larson, Alan W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.1986; Elsevier
• Subjects: Barium Sulfate; Biological and medical sciences; Digestive System - diagnostic imaging; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Gastroscopy; Humans; Medical sciences; Other diseases. Semiology; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patient Participation; Prospective Studies; Radiography; Random Allocation; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Human; Radiography; Statistical analysis; Choice; Gastrointestinal diseases; Digestive diseases; Patient; Endoscopy; Barium meal; Digestive tract; Comparative study; Esogastroduodenal
• ISSN: 0002-9343; 1555-7162
• DOI: 10.1016/0002-9343(86)90010-0

Patient acceptability of endoscopy and the double-contrast barium meal test was compared in a prospective randomized fashion. Ninety-six inpatients were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire within 24 hours of completion of double-contrast barium meal test and endoscopy, after recovery from administered sedation. Twenty-five percent of patients reported moderate to severe discomfort with each procedure. The levels of discomfort reported were similar for both procedures. The majority of patients would readily undergo a repeated procedure, if requested. There was a tendency (p <0.1) for patients to prefer endoscopy overall. No specific patient group that preferred one procedure over the other could be identified, although older patients (more than 55 years) showed a tendency to prefer endoscopy. The choice of one procedure over the other should no longer be based on the presumed superior acceptability of the double-contrast barium meal test.