Impact of digital health interventions on patient satisfaction in outpatient gastrointestinal endoscopy: a systematic review.

Abstract

Objectives: The integration of digital health technologies in gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy presents opportunities to enhance patient experience, an important dimension of care quality. This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of digital health interventions on patient satisfaction and experience in outpatient endoscopy settings.

Design: A systematic review and narrative synthesis were conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

Data sources: PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and Cochrane databases were searched through 9 March 2023.

Eligibility criteria: Studies were eligible if they involved adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing outpatient colonoscopy or gastroscopy and in English. Interventions included any form of educational digital health technology aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery. Telehealth studies were not included.

Data extraction and synthesis: Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias, using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A mixed-method approach was employed for the narrative synthesis, focusing on the primary outcome of patient experience and satisfaction.

Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, all assessing patient satisfaction rather than experience. Five studies reported improved satisfaction associated with digital interventions, three showed no significant change, and one lacked statistical analysis. Interventions ranged from smartphone applications to online educational resources, and satisfaction measurement tools varied significantly. Overall, the evidence was characterised by heterogeneity and very low methodological quality.

Conclusion: Digital health interventions may have a positive impact on patient satisfaction in GI endoscopy, although evidence quality is very low and outcome measurement is inconsistent. Future research should focus on standardising measures of patient experience and satisfaction, ensuring robust study designs to inform the integration of digital health tools into endoscopy practice.

Prospero registration number: CRD42023428609.