Impact of Automated Digital Navigation Program on Bowel Preparation Quality and Patient Satisfaction for Colonoscopy: A Comparative Study Across Multiple Sites

Background Nearly 1 in 5 patients suffers from inadequate or poor bowel preparation in advance of a colonoscopy. Prior studies have shown that this leads to a decrease in adenoma detection rate, increased time spent in completing efficiency in endoscopy suite, as well as an overall increase in cost of care from 13-20%. With the shift to value-based care in the American healthcare system, there is an urgent need for solutions that can automate pre-procedure guidance and post-procedure follow up. Objective As part of the American Gastroenterology Association digital transformation network, we sought to automate and improve pre-procedure navigation for colonoscopy using connected health technologies (specifically digital navigation). At Arizona Center for Digestive Health (AZCDH), we assessed the impact of digital navigation on bowel preparation quality, patient engagement, and patient satisfaction. We also sought to assess the reproducibility of outcomes seen at AZCDH at additional sites that have implemented digital navigation for endoscopic procedures as part of the American Gastroenterology Association network, including Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) and three Mount Sinai Hospital locations. Methods At AZCDH, we compared two cohorts of patients (usual care versus digital navigation) scheduled for colonoscopy. The digital navigation cohort received usual care in addition to time based messages and education content pathways on smartphones and delivered through Rx.Health’s digital medicine platform. Bowel preparation quality was then assessed, as well as patient satisfaction with the digital navigation intervention. Patient engagement and satisfaction were then compared with initial data from other sites within the network. Results Of the 217 patients prescribed the digital navigation program at AZCDH, 93 completed the procedure to date and had bowel preparation results documented in the electronic endoscopic record system. After implementing the digital navigation program the rate of aborted procedures decreased from 2.2% at baseline to 1.07%. In a follow up survey, 93% of respondents “strongly agreed” or “agreed” that the digital navigation program was helpful in preparing for their colonoscopy. At other locations to date, 433 patients have been prescribed the pathway at YNHH along with 213 patients at Mount Sinai locations. One hundred percent and 94% of respondents “strongly agreed” or “agreed” that the digital navigation program was helpful in preparing for their procedure at YNHH and Mount Sinai locations, respectively. Conclusions Our single-site study at AZCDH paved the way to implementing digital navigation pathways at YNHH and Mount Sinai endoscopy locations by demonstrating that colonoscopy instructions are well received by patients, can reduce the rate of aborted procedures and can result in higher patient satisfaction as well as a higher quality of bowel preparation. Further, patient engagement rates and satisfaction with the program was consistent at all sites across the US where the digital navigation program has been implemented. In the future, we plan to report on patient outcomes (including reduction in no shows, poor bowel preparation) to allow benchmarking on a national scale.

Closing the Knowledge Gap: Hepatitis B Reactivation in Immunosuppression

Background The usage of immunosuppressive medications (ISMs), and specifically disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), in a wide range of internal medicine subspecialties has increased the risk of hepatitis B virus re-activation (HBVr). We assessed the understanding of HBVr using a Canada-wide survey. Methods An electronic survey was sent to 521 members of the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA). The questions focused on the knowledge of screening, monitoring and management of patients with chronic or past infection with HBV in the setting of starting ISMs.The results were compared to the American Gastroenterology Association (AGA) guidelines. Results A total of142 respondents were included in the analysis (response rate = 27.3%). Over 50% of the respondents would order unnecessary tests such as anti-HBs or anti-HBc for monitoring a HBsAg positive patient on an ISMs. There were 43% of responders who answered incorrectly to starting anti-viral prophylaxis for HBsAg positive patients on synthetic DMARDs (sDMARDs). Conclusion There are some knowledge gaps amongst physicians managing rheumatology patients with chronic or past infection with HBV in the setting of ISMs. The AGA guidelines were summarized and incorporated into a user-friendly guide.

Epidemiology of the Antibiotic Resistance ofHelicobacter pyloriin Canada

BACKGROUND: The rate ofHelicobacter pyloriresistance to antibiotics determines the cure rate of treatment regimens containing such antibiotics. AIMS: To review the literature to determine the rates ofH pyloriresistance to metronidazole and clarithromycin in Canada, and whether these rates vary in different regions of Canada.METHODS: The literature was reviewed extensively for the prevalence of antibiotic-resistantH pyloriin Canada by searching MEDLINE from January 1980 to May 1999, as well as abstracts of the American Gastroenterology Association Digestive Disease Week, Canadian Digestive Disease Week and The EuropeanH pyloriStudy Group Meetings from January 1995 to May 1999.RESULTS: Eleven studies that estimatedH pyloriresistance to metronidazole resistance and nine that estimated resistance to clarithromycin in Canada were identified. Rates of resistance for metronidazole and clarithromycin varied from 11% to 48% and 0% to 12%, respectively. Studies that obtained their estimates using the E-test and those that did not clearly exclude patients who had undergone previous attempts atH pylorieradication had higher estimates of resistance, accounting for this variability in results.CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of primaryH pyloriresistance in Canada appears to be 18% to 22% for metronidazole and less than 4% for clarithromycin. These rates appear to be consistent across the different regions studied in Canada, but many regions have not been studied.