Open Journal of Gastroenterology

Volume 3, Issue 1 (February 2013)

ISSN Print: 2163-9450   ISSN Online: 2163-9469

Google-based Impact Factor: 0.23  Citations  

Patient stress and satisfaction when allowed the presence of an accompanying person during endoscopy

HTML  Download Download as PDF (Size: 219KB)  PP. 78-83  
DOI: 10.4236/ojgas.2013.31012    4,764 Downloads   7,050 Views  Citations

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Patients undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) have variable stress and anxiety and therefore commonly receive medications as sedative-anxiolytics. These medications have small but significant risks. To possibly make procedures safer and to increase patient satisfaction, this study aimed to measure the effects of allowing an accompanying person (AP) to be present in the endoscopy suite during EGD. Patients and Methods: Forty-two patients were randomly divided into two groups who would either be or not be offered to have an AP during endoscopy. Spielberger’s well-validated state and trait anxiety evaluations were administered to patients before and after EGD. APs also completed questionnaires as to their reactions after EGD. Results: 84.2% of the patients after EGD recommended accompaniment. Patients who underwent EGD with an AP tended (p < 0.06) to have decreased measurable anxiety compared to patients who were not offered an AP. The benefit was significant for persons with higher levels of anxiety prior to EGD (p < 0.04). Patients undergoing EGD for the first time had significantly more anxiety than those with previous EGD experience (p < 0.034). There was no significant reduction in sedative dosage when APs were present. Conclusions: Offering to permit the presence of an accompanying person during EGD was often shown to improve patient satisfaction and reduce anxiety.

Share and Cite:

Lachter, J. and Bluen, B. (2013) Patient stress and satisfaction when allowed the presence of an accompanying person during endoscopy. Open Journal of Gastroenterology, 3, 78-83. doi: 10.4236/ojgas.2013.31012.

Cited by

[1] Use of Hypnosis in Paediatric Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Pilot Study
Frontiers in …, 2021
[2] Informal caregivers in hospitals: Opportunities and threats
The International journal of health planning and management, 2018

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.