Subjective taste to polyethylene glycol is associated with efficacy of right colon preparation.

AIM: A prospective observational trial with preparations using polyethylene glycol (PEG) to compare patient compliance and adverse events according to individual subjective taste.

METHODS: A total of 299 outpatients (mean ± standard deviation [SD] 56.5 ± 13.8 years, 172 males) were recruited for our study. We assessed the efficacy of bowel preparation, subjective taste to their regimens, compliance and adverse events during the preparation.

RESULTS: We achieved adequate preparation in 267 (89.3%). A total of 124 patients (41.5%) had 'unacceptable taste' to their regimens. The patients with acceptable taste had better compliance than the patients with unacceptable taste (p = .009). The patients with unacceptable taste had more frequent adverse events such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal bloating than the patients with acceptable taste (all p < .001, Table 2). Patients with unacceptable taste (16.1%) had more frequent inadequate preparation in overall colon than patients with acceptable taste (6.9%, p = .011). There was a significant difference in the efficacy of preparation of right colon between the two groups (p = .004).

CONCLUSION: Subjective taste to PEG is associated with efficacy of right colon preparation. In addition, subjective taste to PEG is associated with compliance and adverse events.