Comparing Patient-Reported Discomfort and Anxiety With Health Care Professional Assessments During Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Results of a Multicenter Study

Discomfort and anxiety are key factors during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE), impacting patient experience and safety. However, health care professionals often misjudge these levels, which can affect the procedure's outcome. This study aimed to compare patient-reported discomfort and anxiety during UGIE with health care professionals' assessments. A total of 229 patient-endoscopic assistant-endoscopist triads were enrolled in the study. Discomfort and anxiety were measured on an 11-point numerical rating scale. Patients rated their expected level of discomfort at 5.5 (95% confidence interval: 5.2-5.8) and their recalled discomfort at 4.9 (95% confidence interval: 4.5-5.3). Gender differences were observed in expected discomfort levels, but not in recalled discomfort. The mean anxiety score before UGIE was 4.2 (SD 3.0). Patients generally rated their discomfort during UGIE and anxiety before the procedure higher than health care professionals did, with significant interindividual variation. Despite this, the majority of patients (n = 202, 88.2%) were willing to undergo UGIE again. The study revealed significant discrepancies between patient and professional assessments of discomfort and anxiety, likely due to individual variability. Delivering person-centered care during UGIE requires advanced skills to address these differences, emphasizing the need for ongoing skill development in clinicians.