Effect of audio and visual distraction on patients undergoing colonoscopy: a randomized controlled study

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pain Management
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Colonoscopy can induce patient anxiety and discomfort.
• Sedation and analgesia carry risks, especially for elderly patients or those with comorbidities.
• Audio-visual distraction is explored as an alternative to mitigate these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of audio distraction (AD) versus visual distraction (VD) in reducing discomfort during colonoscopy.
• To assess the impact of distraction techniques on the need for sedation.
• To evaluate patient cooperation and willingness to undergo repeat procedures.

Main Methods:

• 200 patients undergoing colonoscopy were randomized into three groups: audio distraction (AD), visual distraction (VD), and control (C).
• All groups received patient-controlled analgesia and sedation (pethidine and midazolam).
• Outcomes measured included perceived pain, willingness to repeat, sedation top-ups, total drug doses, patient cooperation, and procedural ease.

Main Results:

• The audio distraction group reported significantly less pain (P=0.001) compared to visual distraction and control groups.
• Patient cooperation (P=0.001) and willingness to undergo a repeat procedure (P=0.024) were significantly better in the AD group.
• No significant differences were noted between VD and C groups for most outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Audio distraction is an effective method for reducing pain and discomfort during colonoscopy.
• It enhances patient cooperation and willingness for future procedures.
• AD serves as a simple, useful adjunct to low-dose sedation in colonoscopy.