Background: Appropriateness in GI endoscopy is critical to face the rising amount of demands. Education of physicians has been advocated to reduce the level of inappropriateness. Objective: Our purpose was to assess the effectiveness of an educational program in determining a reduction of inappropriate colonoscopies in an open access system. Design: Prospective study. Setting: A single endoscopy unit in Italy. Patients: A total of 495 consecutive outpatients referred to our endoscopy unit by family physicians for diagnostic colonoscopy before the educational course and 522 after its completion, for a total of 1017 patients. Main Outcome Measurements: Inappropriate colonoscopy reduction rates, cost savings, and reduction of waiting lists were evaluated. Results: With regard to inappropriate colonoscopies, the post-course group rate of inappropriateness was significantly lower than that of the pre-course group (P %.001). The economic savings for 1 year was estimated to be V19,000. The reduction of the waiting list was about 15% of the original value. Conclusions: Education has a high incidence in reducing inappropriate colonoscopies in an open-access system determining reduction of costs and waiting lists.
Education improves colonoscopy appropriateness.
BASSOTTI, GABRIO
2008
Abstract
Background: Appropriateness in GI endoscopy is critical to face the rising amount of demands. Education of physicians has been advocated to reduce the level of inappropriateness. Objective: Our purpose was to assess the effectiveness of an educational program in determining a reduction of inappropriate colonoscopies in an open access system. Design: Prospective study. Setting: A single endoscopy unit in Italy. Patients: A total of 495 consecutive outpatients referred to our endoscopy unit by family physicians for diagnostic colonoscopy before the educational course and 522 after its completion, for a total of 1017 patients. Main Outcome Measurements: Inappropriate colonoscopy reduction rates, cost savings, and reduction of waiting lists were evaluated. Results: With regard to inappropriate colonoscopies, the post-course group rate of inappropriateness was significantly lower than that of the pre-course group (P %.001). The economic savings for 1 year was estimated to be V19,000. The reduction of the waiting list was about 15% of the original value. Conclusions: Education has a high incidence in reducing inappropriate colonoscopies in an open-access system determining reduction of costs and waiting lists.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
