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Comfort during colonoscopy is a critical component of safety and quality. Dr Alaa Rostom from Canada developed and validated the Nurse-Assessed Patient Comfort Score (NAPCOMS). The research team noted that colorectal cancer screening centers in the United Kingdom and Canada. A total of 300 consecutive patients undergoing colonoscopy at participating colorectal cancer screening centers. The research team reported that the Nurse-Assessed Patient Comfort Score was developed by using a modified Delphi process. During colonoscopy, 2 endoscopy room nurses independently observed, and rated patient comfort and tolerability by using Nurse-Assessed Patient Comfort Score. The doctors examined that endoscopists reported global comfort scores, and patients' reported global comfort by using visual 4-point Likert and National Health Service-United Kingdom Global Rating Scales.  | | NAPCOMS was validated in outpatients who received colonoscopy with minimal sedation | | Gastrointestinal Endoscopy |
Reliability and validity of Nurse-Assessed Patient Comfort Score was measured by using intraclass correlations between nurse ratings of colonoscopies and between Nurse-Assessed Patient Comfort Score, endoscopist ratings, and patient ratings of global comfort. The research team found that the intraclass correlations for the overall Nurse-Assessed Patient Comfort Score was 0.8. There was high agreement between the NAPCOMS and endoscopist ratings of comfort, moderate agreement between the Nurse-Assessed Patient Comfort Score and patient ratings, and moderate agreement between the endoscopist and patient ratings. NAPCOMS was validated in outpatients who received colonoscopy with minimal to moderate sedation as part of a screening and surveillance program, so performance among inpatients or those requiring deep sedation was not tested. Dr Rostom's team concluded, "Nurse-Assessed Patient Comfort Score is a reliable and valid tool for assessing patient comfort in the setting of outpatient colonoscopy performed with minimal to moderate sedation."
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