1. Exploring the feasibility of home-delivered capsule endoscopy with 5G support: innovations and carbon footprint insights.
- Author
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Jalayeri Nia G, Conway C, Ward F, Dungey S, Streames L, Liu BB, Lei IL, Cameron J, Wenzek H, Shekhar C, Eason S, and Arasaradnam RP
- Subjects
- Humans, Prospective Studies, Male, Female, Middle Aged, Aged, England, Patient Satisfaction, Colonoscopy methods, Telemedicine, Surveys and Questionnaires, Feasibility Studies, Capsule Endoscopy methods, Colorectal Neoplasms diagnosis, Carbon Footprint, Early Detection of Cancer methods
- Abstract
Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant global health threat, necessitating early detection. Traditional diagnostic tools like optical colonoscopy have limitations prompting our '5G-SUCCEEDS' initiative to explore a novel approach involving remote colon capsule endoscopy (CCE)., Methods: This prospective feasibility study was conducted at a single hospital in England. Between December 2022 and September 2023, we introduced a remote CCE service within the 5G-SUCCEEDS framework. We undertook a feasibility study of CCE in patients with low-risk/moderate-risk CRC stratified by faecal haemoglobin. Outcomes included carbon footprint analysis (outlined through three potential clinical pathways) and patient-reported outcomes through structured questionnaires and interviews., Results: Among 25 participants, 88% expressed satisfaction with remote CCE. 82% were willing to have remote CCE if clinically indicated in future. CCE findings included adenomatous polyps (58%), normal results (17%) and diverticulosis (21%), with no cancers identified in this pilot. Notably, we found that the carbon footprint associated with delivery of CCE at home (pathway 3) was lower compared with CCE delivered in a clinical setting (pathway 2). A fully optimised, automated scaled-up pathway would combine the delivery and collection of CCE equipment within a local area to reduce the carbon footprint of the travel element by 75%. Moreover, the conversion rate into a colonoscopy pathway is not static and clinicians acknowledge that this could be as low as 28%. Carbon footprint is more favourable for home-delivered CCE in the optimised scenario, while less so when considering the need for additional procedures (colonoscopy conversion)., Conclusion: The 5G-SUCCEEDS initiative highlights the feasibility and advantages of home-based diagnostics using CCE., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
- Published
- 2024
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