Web-Based Patient Engagement Lowers Anxiety for First-Time Colonoscopy Patients

A new Healthcare Informatics article reports on a new study by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) and the Geisel School of Medicine exploring use of a web-based patient engagement program for first-time colonoscopy patients. Outcomes in the study include:

A new Healthcare Informatics article reports on a new study by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) and the Geisel School of Medicine exploring use of a web-based patient engagement program for first-time colonoscopy patients. Outcomes in the study include:

• significantly lower patient anxiety scores
• 11% more knowledgeable patients about colonoscopy
• 18% less sedation medication requirements
• 14% decrease in procedure times

Fifty-one patients were given DHMC’s standard printed pre-procedure colonoscopy packet while 52 watched the interactive multimedia web-based program and received the same printed packet.

Success with population health will require a reduction in patient fears and web-based engagement programs offer efficient and effective tools.