Background: The diagnostic accuracy of colonoscopy depends on the quality of the bowel preparation, and successful colonoscopy requires optimal visualization of the entire mucosal surface. Physicians favor preparations associated with patient compliance to achieve the best results while patients favor preparations that are low in volume, palatable, have easy to complete regimens and have better safety profile across various patient profiles.
Methods: A self-structured questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 120 Gastroenterologist’s across India from the period May 2018 to July 2018 to understand the prescribing pattern of bowel preparation agents for colonoscopy.
Results: Quality bowel preparation and onset of action are the most common factors that decides choice of agent for bowel preparation opined by 75% and 45% physicians respectively. PEG (Polyethylene glycol) is the most commonly used agent for bowel preparation due to its excellent efficacy and safety profile. Most of the professionals use PEG preparation offering 118 gm/ 2 liters, even though they are aware the USFDA recommended PEG regimens offer 210 gm/2 liters. Apart from good quality of bowel preparation, Liquid PEG had shown distinct advantages of ease of administration, palatability, regimen adherence thus improving the compliance.
Conclusion: Liquid PEG can be considered as a better alternative for bowel cleansing before colonoscopy with additional advantages of ease of administration, palatability thus maximizing regimen adherence thereby improving the colonoscopy outcomes.
