Failure of an Internet-Based Health Care Intervention for Colonoscopy Preparation: A Caveat for Investigators

Abstract

Internet-based tools for health care delivery are proliferating. We examined the effectiveness of an online instructional video aimed at improving bowel preparation prior to colonoscopy. We hypothesized that an educational tool explaining the importance of preparation, the precolonoscopy diet, and how to administer the bowel purgative would lead to improved bowel preparation. However, what we learned during this randomized clinical trial of 2000 patients was that there may still be considerable limitations to reliance on the Internet for health care interventions.