Visual Aids for Colonoscopy Preparation: A Prospective Study on Patient Understanding and Bowel Cleanliness in Colonoscopy Patients

Visual Aids for Colonoscopy Preparation: A Prospective Study on Patient Understanding and Bowel Cleanliness in Colonoscopy Patients

Effective communication in healthcare is critical for improving patient outcomes, particularly in enhancing health literacy and enabling informed decision-making. Traditional informed consent for colonoscopy often fails to clearly explain the procedure, risks, and preparation requirements, leading to inadequate bowel preparation, longer procedures, and missed lesions. Standard educational materials like videos and written instructions are often impersonal, lack cultural inclusivity, and fail to engage patients effectively. Emerging tools, such as the multilingual, visually enhanced Meine Behandlung video series from Visikon®, aim to improve patient comprehension and adherence. This study seeks to compare the effectiveness of these animated videos against traditional consent methods in enhancing patient understanding and adherence, particularly for complex procedures like colonoscopy, which is crucial for diagnosing and preventing colorectal cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years or older
• Scheduled for a routine outpatient colonoscopy procedure
• Capable of understanding communication in German and willing to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with cognitive impairments
• Those unwilling to participate