A study of persons undergoing outpatient gastrointestinal radiography.

A large proportion of the illnesses for which adults seek health care are disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. X-ray studies of the upper gastrointestinal tract and the barium enema are commonly ordered gastrointestinal diagnostic procedures. The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of upper gastrointestinal tract and barium enema x-ray studies on a person's sleep pattern, fatigue, anxiety, blood pressure, pulse, and perceived energy expenditure. Outpatients were assigned to established groups by their ordered x-ray procedure (i.e. barium enema [n = 36], upper gastrointestinal tract x-ray procedure [n = 31], or nonpreparation procedure [n = 36]). Persons who were undergoing a barium enema rated sleep significantly poorer, awakened a greater number of times during the night, and perceived greater energy expenditure during the procedure. This study has implications for the teaching and safety of patients who are undergoing gastrointestinal radiography. The study needs to be expanded to include hospitalized patients, persons with stomas, and persons who are undergoing other gastrointestinal diagnostic procedures such as endoscopic examinations.