RecruitingObservational

Predicting bowel preparation quality before colonoscopy

This study aims to understand how well people prepare their bowels before a colonoscopy. Preparing your bowel correctly is vital for the colonoscopy to be successful. If it's not clean enough, the procedure might not be accurate or may even need to be repeated. Researchers are investigating whether looking at photos of your poo (stool) along with answers to health questions can help predict if your bowel is properly ready for the colonoscopy. This information could lead to better ways to check bowel preparation, potentially improving the experience and outcomes for future patients needing this procedure. Participants will be adults aged 18 or over having a colonoscopy at University College London Hospitals (UCLH).

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Enrolment target

1,000

Start

01 Feb 2026

Estimated completion

01 May 2027

Bowel preparation quality

What is this study about?

When you have a colonoscopy, it's really important that your bowel is properly cleaned out beforehand. If it's not, the doctor might not be able to see everything clearly, and sometimes the procedure might even need to be done again. This study, called "Predicting bowel preparation quality before colonoscopy," is trying to find better ways to know if someone's bowel is clean enough before their colonoscopy.

The researchers want to see if they can use simple things like photos of your poo (stool) and answers to a few health questions to predict how well your bowel is prepared. They will also look at information from your medical records. The main goal is to gather lots of different types of information to understand what makes a bowel preparation successful. While there's no direct benefit to you for taking part, the information learned from this study could really help improve how we check bowel preparation for other patients in the future.

This study is being run from University College London Hospitals (UCLH) in the UK and is expected to start in December 2025, lasting for about two years. It's an observational study, which means researchers will just be watching and collecting information without making any changes to your usual care.

Key takeaways

The study aims to improve colonoscopy preparation for future patients.
It uses smartphone photos of poo and health questions to predict bowel cleanliness.
Participation involves no changes to your medical care or extra hospital visits.
There are no physical risks, but some might find photo-taking unpleasant.
You can stop participating at any time.
The study is for adults having a colonoscopy at UCLH.

Who may be eligible?

You might be able to take part in this study if you are 18 years old or older. You also need to be scheduled for a routine colonoscopy at University College London Hospitals (UCLH).

An important part of this study is being willing and able to use a smartphone to take pictures of your poo (stool) and send them to the researchers. You’ll also need to be able to understand and agree to take part in the study.

If you are under 18, or if you can't or don't want to use a smartphone to take and send photos of your stool, then unfortunately this study isn't suitable for you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Are you scheduled for a colonoscopy at University College London Hospitals (UCLH)?
Do you have a smartphone you are willing to use to take and share photos of your poo?
Are you able to agree to take part in the study?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to join this study, your involvement is quite simple and won't change your medical care. You'll be asked to give your permission to participate, which might be done electronically. The main part of your involvement will be taking photos of your poo (stool) using your own smartphone and sending them to the research team. You might also be asked some questions about your health history and bowel habits at the beginning of the study. The researchers will also look at information from your medical records, including details about your colonoscopy if you have one. If you're having a colonoscopy, the procedure might be video recorded so researchers can check the bowel preparation, but these recordings are kept private and safe. Importantly, there are no extra hospital visits or procedures required, and your colonoscopy will go ahead as planned. Your GP will also be told that you're taking part, unless you ask them not to.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no physical risks involved in this study. Some people might find the idea of taking photos of their poo (stool) a bit unusual or unpleasant, but this is the only potential discomfort. You can choose to stop participating at any time if you wish. While there isn't a direct benefit to you personally, the information gathered from your participation could be very valuable. It might help doctors understand and improve bowel preparation assessments for future patients, potentially making colonoscopies more effective for others.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
City only
London, England

Common questions

Will my medical care change if I join this study?

No, taking part in this study will not change your medical care or your planned colonoscopy in any way.

What do I need to do if I take part?

You'll primarily be asked to take photos of your poo (stool) with your smartphone and answer some health questions. Researchers will also look at your medical records.

Are there any risks to participating?

There are no physical risks. Some people might find taking photos of their stool a bit unpleasant, but you can stop the study at any time.

Will I personally benefit from taking part?

There's no direct personal benefit. However, the information you provide could help improve bowel preparation for future patients needing colonoscopies.

Who can I contact if I have more questions?

You can contact Dr Julian Gertner, the Principal Researcher, at bowelprepstudy@ucl.ac.uk.

How to find out more

Julian Gertner

j.gertner@ucl.ac.uk +44 2076799060 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.