Patient Preferences of a Resect and Discard Paradigm

The American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) published a review article on a new paradigm in colorectal cancer screening termed "resect and discard". This new paradigm challenges the current practice of sending all colorectal polyps, regardless of appearance or size, to pathology for analysis. "Resect and Discard" describes a new approach in which small polyps could be removed, but be discarded instead of sent for pathology analysis. This is based on data showing that gastroenterologists can predict the pathology of small colorectal polyps with 80-90% accuracy, and that discarding small polyps would not alter surveillance recommendations.

Neither the ASGE document nor published research, however, assessed patient attitudes toward this approach. This study surveyed patients prior to first time screening colonoscopy, in order to determine their preferences about the resect and discard approach; specifically would patients be willing to pay for pathology analysis of small colorectal polyps with their own money, and what factors influence their decision. We also inquired about factors that would influence their decision to pay/not pay pathology costs themselves.