Impact of enhanced instructions by short message service on the quality of bowel preparation for colonoscopy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the world’s fourth most deadly cancer (1). The incidence of CRC is increasing in China (2). Colonoscopy is the primary screening tool for CRC precancerous lesions (3). Adequate bowel preparation is crucial for successful colonoscopy, and mainly associated with patients’ age, body mass index (BMI), and compliance (4). The aim of this study was to explore the impact of enhanced instructions by short message service (SMS) on the quality of bowel preparation for colonoscopy. This retrospective observational study followed the Declaration of Helsinki and obtained the ethical approved of the Medical Ethical Committee of the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command (No. Y (2021)091). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 475 patients who underwent colonoscopy by an endoscopist (XQ) at our department between January 2021 and July 2021. The exclusion criteria were as follows: 1) inpatients who underwent colonoscopy; 2) patients with a history of colorectal resection; 3) patients who did not complete colonoscopy due to severe intestinal obstruction or stenosis and unbearable pain; and 4) major clinical data were lacking.