Joshua Tierney1, Rebeccah B Baucom2, Michael D Holzman3, Benjamin K Poulose3, Richard A Pierce3. 1. Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Medical Center North, Suite CCC-4312, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232-2730, USA. joshua.tierney@gmail.com. 2. Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Medical Center North, Suite CCC-4312, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232-2730, USA. 3. Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Medical Center North, Suite CCC-4312, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232-2730, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The diagnostic and therapeutic roles for endoscopic intervention are expanding. To continue emphasis on endoscopy in surgical training, The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons has developed the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) course to standardize and assess endoscopy training. However, little demographic information exists about the current practice of endoscopy by general surgeons and how to best integrate endoscopic skills into surgical training. METHODS: A survey to collect data regarding the current practice patterns of endoscopy was sent to surgeons with a valid email address in the American Medical Association masterfile. Information regarding the type of training (academic vs. community general surgery residency) and current practice environment (academic medical center vs. community hospital) was collected. The respondents' current practice volume of upper endoscopy and colonoscopy over the prior year was stratified into three groups: rare (<1 per month), moderate (1-10 per month), and frequent (>10 per month). Pearson's Chi-squared test was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The survey was sent to 9902 general surgeons. There were 767 who provided answers regarding their current practice of endoscopy. Mean time in practice was 18 ± 10 years, 87 % were male, and 83 % practiced in a metropolitan area. Respondents who trained at academic general surgery programs were less likely than those at community programs to frequently perform colonoscopy (17.3 vs. 27.9 %, p < 0.05) and upper endoscopy (11.8 vs. 17.1 %, p < 0.05). Those who currently practice in academic medical centers were also less likely to be frequent performers of colonoscopy (5.6 vs. 24.7 %, p < 0.05) and upper endoscopy (9.8 vs. 14.8 %, p < 0.05) than those who practice at community hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: The type of residency training and current practice setting of general surgeons has a significant influence on the volume of endoscopic procedures performed. This study identifies areas where more emphasis on endoscopic skills training is needed, such as FES.
BACKGROUND: The diagnostic and therapeutic roles for endoscopic intervention are expanding. To continue emphasis on endoscopy in surgical training, The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons has developed the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) course to standardize and assess endoscopy training. However, little demographic information exists about the current practice of endoscopy by general surgeons and how to best integrate endoscopic skills into surgical training. METHODS: A survey to collect data regarding the current practice patterns of endoscopy was sent to surgeons with a valid email address in the American Medical Association masterfile. Information regarding the type of training (academic vs. community general surgery residency) and current practice environment (academic medical center vs. community hospital) was collected. The respondents' current practice volume of upper endoscopy and colonoscopy over the prior year was stratified into three groups: rare (<1 per month), moderate (1-10 per month), and frequent (>10 per month). Pearson's Chi-squared test was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The survey was sent to 9902 general surgeons. There were 767 who provided answers regarding their current practice of endoscopy. Mean time in practice was 18 ± 10 years, 87 % were male, and 83 % practiced in a metropolitan area. Respondents who trained at academic general surgery programs were less likely than those at community programs to frequently perform colonoscopy (17.3 vs. 27.9 %, p < 0.05) and upper endoscopy (11.8 vs. 17.1 %, p < 0.05). Those who currently practice in academic medical centers were also less likely to be frequent performers of colonoscopy (5.6 vs. 24.7 %, p < 0.05) and upper endoscopy (9.8 vs. 14.8 %, p < 0.05) than those who practice at community hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: The type of residency training and current practice setting of general surgeons has a significant influence on the volume of endoscopic procedures performed. This study identifies areas where more emphasis on endoscopic skills training is needed, such as FES.
Keywords:
Colonoscopy; Flexible endoscopy; General surgeon; Upper endoscopy
Authors: Nancy N Baxter; Joan L Warren; Michael J Barrett; Therese A Stukel; V Paul Doria-Rose Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2012-06-11 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Melina C Vassiliou; Pepa A Kaneva; Benjamin K Poulose; Brian J Dunkin; Jeffrey M Marks; Riadh Sadik; Gideon Sroka; Mehran Anvari; Klaus Thaler; Gina L Adrales; Jeffrey W Hazey; Jenifer R Lightdale; Vic Velanovich; Lee L Swanstrom; John D Mellinger; Gerald M Fried Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2010-01-29 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Mario P Morales; Gregory J Mancini; Brent W Miedema; Nitin J Rangnekar; Debra G Koivunen; Bruce J Ramshaw; W Stephen Eubanks; Hugh E Stephenson Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2008-02-23 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Souheil W Adra; Amber W Trickey; Moira E Crosby; Scott H Kurtzman; Mark L Friedell; H David Reines Journal: J Surg Educ Date: 2012-06-23 Impact factor: 2.891
Authors: Marquita R Decker; Christopher M Dodgion; Alvin C Kwok; Yue-Yung Hu; Jeff A Havlena; Wei Jiang; Stuart R Lipsitz; K Craig Kent; Caprice C Greenberg Journal: J Am Coll Surg Date: 2013-11-06 Impact factor: 6.113
Authors: Jamie M Tjaden; Jessica A Hause; Daniel Berger; Samantha K Duveneck; Shriram M Jakate; Bruce A Orkin; Elizabeth L Hubbard; Joshua E Melson Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2018-01-16 Impact factor: 4.584