Mean importance scores of the complete item list by patients and by endoscopists, and significance of the difference between these mean importance scores (ranked according to magnitude of the difference)
| Item | Item No | Mean importance score by patients* | Mean importance score by endoscopists† | Difference in mean importance score | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Being involved in the timing of the colonoscopy procedure (morning/afternoon) | 1 | 3.80 | 2.65 | −1.15 | <0.001 |
| Being involved in the choice of the type of bowel preparation | 2 | 3.72 | 2.66 | −1.06 | <0.001 |
| Ease of reaching a doctor for substantive questions | 3 | 4.4110 | 3.57 | −0.84 | <0.001 |
| Performance of the colonoscopy by one's treating doctor | 4 | 3.36 | 4.17 | 0.81 | 0.003 |
| Absence from work owing to the bowel preparation | 5 | 2.58 | 3.34 | 0.76 | 0.007 |
| Pain experienced during the colonoscopy | 6 | 3.99 | 4.713 | 0.73 | <0.001 |
| Abdominal pain/cramps due to the bowel preparation | 7 | 3.37 | 4.09 | 0.71 | 0.001 |
| Nausea/vomiting due to the bowel preparation | 8 | 3.56 | 4.26 | 0.70 | 0.001 |
| Being informed beforehand if one's treating doctor cannot perform the colonoscopy | 9 | 3.60 | 4.29 | 0.68 | 0.009 |
| Uncertainty about the level of cleanliness of the bowel | 10 | 3.91 | 3.26 | −0.66 | 0.006 |
| Temperature in the examination room | 11 | 3.75 | 3.17 | −0.58 | 0.01 |
| Discussion of risks and possible complications of the colonoscopy beforehand | 12 | 4.515 | 3.97 | −0.54 | 0.002 |
| Being involved in the choice whether or not sedation is given | 13 | 4.544 | 4.06 | −0.48 | 0.03 |
| Worries about not reaching a bathroom on time while taking the bowel preparation (eg, in public transport) | 14 | 3.45 | 3.91 | 0.46 | 0.08 |
| Feeling of being in control | 15 | 3.97 | 4.40 | 0.43 | 0.02 |
| Volume of bowel preparation one is required to drink | 16 | 4.07 | 4.5010 | 0.43 | 0.01 |
| Information consultation with endoscopist before the colonoscopy | 17 | 4.25 | 3.85 | −0.39 | 0.08 |
| Ease of reaching one's treating doctor in case of emergency | 18 | 4.642 | 4.26 | −0.39 | 0.16 |
| Attention to privacy during the procedure (eg, covering up) | 19 | 3.71 | 4.09 | 0.38 | 0.11 |
| Worries about keeping the bathroom occupied during the preparation phase | 20 | 2.38 | 2.74 | 0.35 | 0.22 |
| Attention to one's emotions during the colonoscopy (‘are you feeling anxious?’) | 21 | 3.71 | 4.06 | 0.35 | 0.14 |
| Clear explanation on the duration and purpose of the stay in the recovery room after the procedure | 22 | 3.92 | 3.63 | −0.30 | 0.18 |
| Feeling of trust towards one's treating doctor | 23 | 4.457 | 4.742 | 0.29 | 0.04 |
| Disruption of normal daily activities due to having to take the bowel preparation | 24 | 2.93 | 3.20 | 0.28 | 0.31 |
| Confidence that one's treating doctor is there when needed | 25 | 4.34 | 4.606 | 0.26 | 0.15 |
| Clear instructions on how to use the bowel preparation | 26 | 4.03 | 3.77 | −0.26 | 0.26 |
| Encouraging guidance during the procedure (eg, ‘you are doing well’; ‘we are almost done’) | 27 | 3.94 | 4.17 | 0.23 | 0.28 |
| Intrusion of unknown people during the procedure | 28 | 3.68 | 3.88 | 0.21 | 0.45 |
| Waiting time on the day of the colonoscopy | 29 | 4.10 | 3.91 | −0.19 | 0.37 |
| Physical environment of the colonoscopy room (comfort of the examination table, scent, light intensity) | 30 | 3.59 | 3.40 | −0.19 | 0.45 |
| Atmosphere of the recovery room (cup of tea, biscuit, small talk) | 31 | 3.65 | 3.83 | 0.18 | 0.43 |
| Being asked beforehand if it is okay if unknown other people are present during the colonoscopy | 32 | 3.91 | 3.74 | −0.18 | 0.48 |
| Clarity about follow-up plans before leaving the hospital | 33 | 4.38 | 4.547 | 0.16 | 0.29 |
| Clear explanation of what to expect after having taken the bowel preparation | 34 | 4.33 | 4.17 | −0.16 | 0.38 |
| Chapped perianal skin due to the bowel preparation | 35 | 3.37 | 3.23 | −0.14 | 0.59 |
| Clear explanation of the reason why one has to undergo a colonoscopy | 36 | 4.37 | 4.509 | 0.13 | 0.49 |
| Privacy while discussing the colonoscopy results | 37 | 4.30 | 4.17 | −0.13 | 0.52 |
| Presence of a family member in the colonoscopy room for support | 38 | 2.96 | 3.09 | 0.13 | 0.65 |
| Being provided with preliminary colonoscopy results before leaving the hospital | 39 | 4.476 | 4.605 | 0.13 | 0.41 |
| Explanation that escape of air from the anus is a normal consequence of the procedure | 40 | 3.87 | 3.97 | 0.10 | 0.60 |
| Taste of the bowel preparation | 41 | 4.10 | 4.00 | −0.10 | 0.65 |
| Ease of reaching the endoscopy ward for questions on the bowel preparation | 42 | 4.21 | 4.11 | −0.10 | 0.60 |
| Being warned in advance if a painful moment is to be expected | 43 | 4.24 | 4.14 | −0.10 | 0.64 |
| Having one treating doctor who knows all about one's medical history | 44 | 4.458 | 4.37 | −0.08 | 0.61 |
| Quality of the information leaflet | 45 | 4.33 | 4.26 | −0.08 | 0.67 |
| Ease of reaching the treating doctor for non-urgent matters | 46 | 3.95 | 4.03 | 0.08 | 0.65 |
| Clear explanation beforehand of what is to be expected during the colonoscopy procedure | 47 | 4.459 | 4.518 | 0.07 | 0.69 |
| Knowing in advance who is going to perform the procedure | 48 | 3.32 | 3.26 | −0.06 | 0.79 |
| Being treated with respect by the performing endoscopist | 49 | 4.741 | 4.801 | 0.06 | 0.61 |
| Knowing who is who in the colonoscopy room: did everyone present introduce him/herself?) | 50 | 3.75 | 3.71 | −0.04 | 0.87 |
| Duration of the waiting time until the colonoscopy appointment | 51 | 4.32 | 4.29 | −0.02 | 0.90 |
| Being treated in a personal manner and therefore not feeling as one of many | 52 | 4.623 | 4.604 | −0.02 | 0.87 |
| Being checked up on regularly during the colonoscopy (eg, ‘are you still doing okay?’) | 53 | 4.18 | 4.20 | 0.02 | 0.92 |
| The taking of ample time for the procedure (not too hastily) | 54 | 4.31 | 4.31 | 0.01 | 0.98 |
| Short face-to- face conversation with the performing endoscopist before leaving the hospital | 55 | 4.37 | 4.37 | 0.00 | 0.99 |
↵* The 10 items that received the highest mean importance scores by patients are marked with the corresponding rank number (1 to 10) in superscript.
↵† The 10 items that received the highest mean importance scores by endoscopists are marked with the corresponding rank number (1 to 10) in superscript.