Endoscopic characterization of small colonic polyps: baseline performance of experienced endoscopists is no different to that of medical students

Peter Basford, James Brown, Sarah Cooper, Pradeep Bhandari

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Abstract

Background: Studies examining the impact of training modules on characterization of diminutive colonic polyps (DCP) show varying results.

Aim: We aimed to assess the impact of a novel web-based training module on the accuracy of in vivo characterization of DCPs using different imaging modalities. Differences between groups with varying degrees of endoscopic experience were also assessed.

Methods: In total, 90 images of 30 DCPs viewed with high definition white light (HDWL), i-Scan, and indigo carmine chromoendoscopy were included in an online test module. Testing was undertaken before and after completing a novel web-based in vivo characterization training module. In total, 21 subjects (medical students (MS), gastroenterology trainees (GT), and gastroenterology consultants (GC)) undertook the tests and training module.

Results: No statistically significant difference in overall accuracy was found between the three groups either pre- (MS 59.1 %, GR 65.7 %, GC 62.4 %, P = ns for all three comparisons) or post-training (MS 69.2 %, GR 71.1 %, GC 71.3 %, P = ns for all three comparisons). Accuracy improved significantly for all three groups post-training (P < 0.001) as did interobserver agreement. No significant differences in accuracy between modalities were found pre-training (HDWL 64.8 %, i-Scan 60.0 %, chromoendoscopy 62.2 %, P = ns). Post-training accuracy with HDWL and chromoendoscopy was better than with i-Scan (HDWL 72.9 % vs i-Scan 65.1 %, P = 0.002; i-Scan 65.1 % vs chromoendoscopy 73.7 %, P < 0.001). The proportion of high confidence predictions increased from 25.7 % to 41.5 %, with a high confidence prediction accuracy of 81.7 %.

Conclusions: Skills for in vivo characterization of DCPs are not acquired through endoscopic experience alone. A novel web-based training intervention results in modest improvements in accuracy with further improvements likely to require more prolonged training.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)E403-E411
Number of pages9
JournalEndoscopy International Open
Volume7
Issue number4
Early online date21 Mar 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2019

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