WHICH HURTS THE MOST - A COMPARISON OF PAIN RATING DURING DOUBLE-CONTRAST BARIUM ENEMA EXAMINATION AND COLONOSCOPY

PURPOSE: To study the degree of pain caused by double-contrast barium enema examination and colonoscopy and to compare pain ratings by patie nts and medical personnel. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a random sample, 1 90 patients (aged 45-79 years) (mean, 63.1 years) recorded their exper iences of pain during each procedure and the medical staff recorded th eir impressions of the patients' pain, on a 10-point progressive scale . The data were analyzed with the Wilcoxon rank test, Spearman rank co rrelation, and generalized K value. RESULTS: Patients' pain ratings we re significantly higher during colonoscopy than during double-contrast barium enema examination (P < .0001). Pain was rated significantly hi gher by patients than by personnel for both procedures (P < .0001). CO NCLUSION: In the choice of procedure, patients' high level of pain dur ing colonoscopy should be remembered. The medical staff frequently und erestimated patients' pain during both procedures, and this study docu ments a need for more extensive pain relief measures during potentiall y painful examinations of the large bowel.