Authors (including presenting author) :
Kwan TH (1), Chan WY(1), Ip HL(1), Mui KC (1), Chok KMN(1), Fong KYS (1), Cheung WIV(2)
Affiliation :
(1) Endoscopy Unit, Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital (2) Department of Medicine, Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital
Introduction :
The current practice in the local endoscopy center is that patients put on regular patient clothing after admission, and were asked to remove their lower limb clothing and covered with a bed sheet during colonoscopy. Patients typically lie laterally with their buttocks exposed. Occasionally, patients may encounter position change to facilitate scope passage with limited coverage of pelvic anatomy. From observation, patients feel embarrassed related to bodily exposure during colonoscopy. In addition, inadequate protection for patient privacy could potentially create medicolegal issue. Recent research revealed that specially designed clothing, which provides better coverage on body parts among patient during colonoscopy, can significantly minimize patient embarrassment, enhance physical privacy protection and patient satisfaction(Aamar, et al., 2019).
Objectives :
A Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) program on the use of disposable colonoscopy pants among colonoscopy patients was performed at the local endoscopy center, aiming at improving patients’ sense of physical privacy and enhancing patient satisfaction during colonoscopy. Patient privacy and dignity is crucially important and medical professionals have the obligation to improve it. Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of quality health care. It affects clinical outcomes and the efficient delivery of health care.
Methodology :
In order to preserve patient privacy and dignity, disposable colonoscopy pants was introduced in the local endoscopy center. The design of the pants is a pair of normal shorts with an opening at the back side. The pants provides better coverage and minimizes unnecessary exposure of patient body parts, as compared with the current patient clothing. Patients with prior colonoscopy experience were recruited conveniently in the local endoscopy center from July 2019 to December 2019. The recruited patients were invited to put on the disposable colonoscopy pants during procedure. An instruction poster demonstrating the steps of wearing colonoscopy pants aided with pictures was designed to guide patients on the application of the disposable pants. A structured questionnaire will be given to the recruited patients after colonoscopy to evaluate patient perceived privacy and satisfaction with the use of disposable pants, as compared to traditional patient clothing.
Result & Outcome :
Most patients reported that privacy pants increase physical privacy protection during colonoscopy. In addition, patients felt more respected, more satisfied, and less embarrassed while wearing privacy pants during colonoscopy. A total of 57 patients were recruited and most of the participants (92.9%) were aged over 50 years old from July 2019 to December 2019. None of them had prior experience of wearing specially designed colonoscopy pants. Patients' perception on privacy protection of the colonoscopy pants, their level of satisfaction towards the pants, the ease for wearing the pants and the instruction of the poster were evaluated by a 5-point Likert scale. whereas 63.2% of patients strongly agreed and 35.1% agreed that the pants increased their physical privacy during colonoscopy as compared with their previous experience. 71.9% of patients reported a high satisfaction with the colonoscopy pants, while 24.6% of patients reported a moderate satisfaction with the disposable pants; with the overall satisfaction rate 4.67. 71.9% of patients strongly agreed and 26.3% of patients agreed that the colonscopy pants were easy to wear. 94.7% patients reported that the instruction poster for wearing the pants is clear and easy to understand.
