The Effectiveness of Personalized Bowel Preparation Using a Smartphone Camera Application: A Randomized Pilot Study.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Bowel preparation quality is crucial for endoscopic procedures.
• Optimal polyethylene glycol (PEG) dosage ensures effective bowel cleansing.
• Current methods for determining PEG dosage can be suboptimal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a smartphone application for optimizing PEG dosage in bowel preparation.
• To compare the effectiveness of an app-guided approach versus traditional instructions.

Main Methods:

• Patients were randomized to use a smartphone app for PEG dosage or standard written instructions.
• The app analyzed stool images to determine optimal PEG dosage.
• Bowel preparation quality was assessed using the Ottawa Bowel Preparation Scale (OBPS).

Main Results:

• No significant difference in mean OBPS scores between the app and non-app groups (P=0.950).
• The app group consumed significantly lower PEG doses (3713.2 mL vs. 3979.2 mL, P=0.001).
• High user acceptance of the smartphone application was reported (mean Likert score 4.37).

Conclusions:

• Smartphone application use resulted in reduced PEG consumption without compromising bowel preparation quality.
• The app demonstrated potential for enhancing patient compliance with bowel preparation protocols.
• This technology offers a promising tool for personalized and efficient bowel cleansing.