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Exploring the Clinical Value of an AI-Assisted Patient Self-Assessment App for Bowel Preparation: A Multicenter Study
Sponsor: Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University
Summary
The quality of bowel preparation hinges on how well patients follow the prep-drug regimen, so intensive education is essential. Phone calls, texts, short videos, and mini-programs have all been shown to boost compliance and improve prep quality. Still, we also need a way to spot-early-those patients who are likely to prep poorly so we can step in with a rescue plan. In our pilot work the investigators built an AI-assisted mini-program that lets patients photograph their effluent and get an instant quality read-out. The single-center RCT showed excellent performance. Because these findings came from one center, the investigators are now launching a multicenter study to test the tool more broadly. Patients will use the AI mini-program at home; if the algorithm predicts inadequate prep it will prompt them to come in early or alert staff so the investigators can initiate a rescue protocol and, ultimately, improve bowel-cleansing quality.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
524
Start Date
2026-01-01
Completion Date
2027-12-31
Last Updated
2026-01-21
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
The app group
After taking the bowel-prep solution, patients in the app group are instructed to photograph their final stool in the toilet and upload the image through our smartphone app. The AI algorithm immediately scores the prep quality. If the image is rated "poor" or "inadequate," the app displays an alert advising the patient to come to the hospital early or contact clinical staff; clinical staffs then review the photo and decide whether a rescue preparation is needed. The standard rescue was an additional packet of polyethylene glycol. If the image is rated "adequate," the patient is told the prep is acceptable and should proceed to the appointment, where clinical staffs will use the uploaded photo to confirm eligibility for colonoscopy.