Impact of sedation use on patient anxiety and satisfaction during colonoscopy

Abstract

Aim : To evaluate the anxiety level and patient satisfaction during colonoscopy in patients who received intravenous sedation and also to determine the main predictors that may influence the anxiety level related to colonoscopy. Background : Intravenous sedation may play a major role in reducing patient anxiety during colonoscopy and increasing the patient's satisfaction. Patients and methods : Seventy patients scheduled for diagnostic colonoscopy were categorized into 2 groups matched for sex, age, and indication of colonoscopy. The patients in the first group were sedated with midazolam 0.1 mg/kg intravenously and the patients in the second group received saline as placebo. The level of satisfaction was evaluated on a 5-point scale (poor, fair, good, very good, and excellent) and the severity of anxiety was rated on a 100 mm visual analogue scale with at all anxious and extremely anxious as anchors. Results : No significant difference was found in the level of post-procedure satisfaction between the sedated and non-sedated groups (P=0.720). The mean of anxiety score in sedated patients was significantly lower than another group (47.6±25.9 versus 74.4±16.3, respectively, P (?=15.2, SE=7.1, P=0.037). Conclusion : Sedation can reduce anxiety during colonoscopy, but post-procedure patient's satisfaction is not dependant to sedation use.