The Effect of Pre-Colonoscopy Education and Telephone Monitoring on Patients' Anxiety Level and Bowel Preparation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: Colonoscopy is an anxiety-provoking process for individuals. Adequate colonoscopy preparation of the individual contributes to the success of the colonoscopy. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of pre-colonoscopy education and phone calls on patients' anxiety and bowel preparation levels. Material and Methods: This is a randomized controlled study. The sample consists of 80 people determined by power analysis. Individuals were divided into 40 experimental and 40 control groups. Data were collected using the Boston Bowel Readiness Scale and the State Anxiety Inventory. Results: Compared with the control group, our experimental group participants exhibited lower anxiety levels and higher bowel preparation levels. The experimental group demonstrated a greater water intake and required fewer enemas before the procedure than the control group. Furthermore, the experimental group reported fewer procedural problems, such as nausea and defecation than the control group. These results highlight the positive impact of pre colonoscopy training on reducing procedural anxiety and mitigating procedural problems. In addition, the findings suggest that patients who receive pre-colonoscopy training exhibit better levels of bowel preparation. Conclusion: Nurses should develop and implement educational programs for patients undergoing colonoscopy. Phone calls can increase the effectiveness of training.