Yonsei Med J.  2012 Mar;53(2):310-317. 10.3349/ymj.2012.53.2.310.

Endoscopist Specialty Is Associated with High-Quality Endoscopy in Korea

• Cha JM
• Han DS
• Lee HL
• Kim YH
• Chung IK
• Kim HS
• Moon JS
• Cho YK

• KMID: 1120197
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2012.53.2.310

Abstract

PURPOSE
The present study was aimed to determine whether endoscopist specialty is associated with high-quality endoscopy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We prospectively collected endoscopy quality related data based on the Endoscopy Quality Rating Scale (EQRS) of 277 endoscopy units in a hospital setting from the National Cancer Screening Program of Korea in 2009. Gastroenterology medical professors (n=154) from university hospitals visited each endoscopy unit and graded the unit according to the EQRS. The scores from the EQRS were analyzed and compared in relation to endoscopy training during residency and endoscopy subspecialist certification.
RESULTS
After excluding data from 3 endoscopy units, EQRS data from 274 endoscopy units were analyzed: 263 esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) screening units and 90 colonoscopy screening units. There were no significant differences in the scores of EQRS with respect to endoscopy training during residency (p=no significance), except for scores of EGDs for "Facility and Equipment" (p=0.030). However, EQRS scores were significantly higher in the endoscopy units where endoscopy subspecialists performed the endoscopies than those where Endoscopy Subspecialists did not perform the endoscopies (p<0.05, except p=0.08 for the "Process" criteria of EGD).
CONCLUSION
Endoscopist specialty is an important determinant of high-quality endoscopy in Korea.

Keyword

Endoscopy; Endoscopy Quality Rating Scale (EQRS); endoscopist; quality; specialty

MeSH Terms

Endoscopy/*standards
Endoscopy, Digestive System/standards
Humans
Korea
Medicine/*standards
Physicians/*standards

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