A pilot study to test the practicality and efficiency of methods used to evaluate colon cleansing in an inpatient setting.

The purpose of the study was to test measurement methods in an inpatient setting for future use in a multisite study about bowel cleansing before colonoscopy. Because the multisite study used data collectors at distant geographic points who might have limited time to devote to data collection, the forms needed to be tested for practicality and efficiency. The data collection procedures worked well, but we experienced unexpected difficulties recruiting inpatients. We also found that we need to direct more efforts toward building the staff nurses' enthusiasm for the study because they help with data collection.