Background: Re-biopsy by bronchoscopy is an important part of treatment for patients with relapsed lung cancer; however, some patients refuse to undergo a re-examination due to discomfort during their first bronchoscopy. The aim of the present study was to determine factors causing discomfort during bronchoscopy and to identify the factors that affect patients' reluctance to undergo repeat examinations via a questionnaire administered immediately after the initial bronchoscopy.
Methods and findings: We evaluated 283 patients who underwent bronchoscopy at Chiba University Hospital between September 2015 and March 2017. Following bronchoscopy, the patients answered a questionnaire regarding the procedure. We identified patient characteristics and factors related to bronchoscopy that were associated with patients' reluctance to undergo re-examination. Two hundred nine patients were ultimately enrolled in the study. The factors affecting patient tolerance for re-examination were female sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-5.53), discomfort during the examination (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.13-2.56), and unexpectedness of discomfort during the examination (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.19-2.81). Patients experienced discomfort most frequently owing to throat anesthesia (n = 50 [24%]).
Conclusions: Comfort during bronchoscopy is an important factor influencing patient tolerance for re-examination. Expectations of discomfort during bronchoscopy, as indicated by instructions provided before examination, and throat anesthesia are also important factors. Detailed explanations about bronchoscopy and improvement of the methods of throat anesthesia could decrease patient discomfort and may help decrease patients' reluctance to undergo re-examinations.