[Physicians working in internal medicine's ward: a survey on their role in the management of the gastrointestinal endoscopy services in Emilia Romagna].
We carried out a survey on the role played by the Wards of Internal Medicine in the management of the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (G.E.) Services operating in Emilia Romagna. 45 G.E. Services were censored, for a total of 225 endoscopists: 105 out of them (46.7%) were gastroenterologists and 84 (37.3%) were surgeons, whereas just 35 (15.6%) were working in Internal Medicine's Ward and 1 (0.4%) was working in a Division of Geriatrics. A significant difference was observed analyzing the composition of the G.E. staffs on the basis of the size and activity of G.E. Services (p < 0.001). Physicians working in Wards of Internal Medicine represented 9.2% and 24.5% of the endoscopists in the hospitals with or without a Gastroenterology Unit, respectively (p = 0.003). Based on these results, the physicians working in Internal Medicine's Ward seem to play a secondary role in G.E. Services. Their role is greater in small hospitals, but they are often compelled to operate under suboptimal circumstances.
Centro di Endoscopia Digestiva, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Corso Giovecca, 203 - 44100 Ferrara.
Lucio
L
Trevisani
Viviana
V
Cifalà
Paola
P
Tombesi
Sergio
S
Sartori
Vincenzo
V
Abbasciano
D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D007558:Italy; D010819:Physician's Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires