A National Study Comparing the Tolerability and Effectiveness of Colon-Cleansing Preparations

The aim of this multisite study (N = 412) was to identify which colon-cleansing preparations used before colonoscopy work best with specific patient populations. A comparative, descriptive approach was used to (1) describe bowel-cleansing preparations being used across the United States, (2) compare their cleansing effectiveness and tolerability, and (3) compare their effectiveness in patients with various health characteristics. A descriptive demographic data form adapted from the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates Minimum Data Set was used to collect baseline information, identify preprocedure instructions, and describe compliance with preparations. Subjects completed an 11-item subject experience with the bowel-cleansing form before their colonoscopy. A colon cleanliness scale was completed during the colonoscopy to evaluate the effectiveness of the preparation. The preparations revealed a "good" to "excellent" rating and there was no statistical difference in the cleansing effectiveness of the preparations. Subjects experienced a variety of discomforts. Future studies that involve the pooling of data from multiple sites in different geographical areas may provide more precise criteria for the selection of colon-cleansing preparation for specific patients and increase the cultural diversity of the sample.