Patient interest in video recording of colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is operator-dependent and substantial numbers of pre-cancerous polyps are missed during colonoscopy. Colonoscopies are often poorly documented, with only a few still photographs taken of anatomic landmarks and abnormal findings. Video recording is rarely used in colonoscopy except for teaching purposes; therefore, the potential impact of systematic video recording on the quality of colonoscopy is unknown.

To find if patients are interested in obtaining a video recording of their colonoscopy procedure, a research team from United States conducted a survey of patients undergoing colonoscopy at Indiana University Hospital. Their study will be published on January 28, 2010 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

Their survey found that the majority expressed interest in obtaining a video recording of their procedure. Awareness of missed lesions during colonoscopy increased patient interest in having a video recording. While there were no predictors of interest in having a video recording, younger patients were more willing to pay for a video recording.

Prior colorectal cancer and family history of colorectal cancer predicted willingness to pay more for a video recording. Payment by patients for video recordings is a potential mechanism of offsetting the cost of making video recordings.