Is formal training necessary for capsule endoscopy? The largest gastroenterology trainee study with controls.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the infrastructure to train gastroenterologists in capsule endoscopy. The level of capsule endoscopy exposure among trainees in the United Kingdom or Europe has also not been quantified.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the ability of 10 gastroenterology trainees with endoscopy experience to interpret 10 capsule endoscopy videos against five medical students, with an expert in capsule endoscopy as the gold standard. Parameters assessed included gastric emptying time, small bowel transit and the diagnosis made. A questionnaire survey assessed the level of capsule endoscopy exposure among United Kingdom trainees.


RESULTS
Trainees were better at determining the gastric emptying time (p=0.013) and more likely to record true positives compared to the students (p=0.037). They were also less likely to record false positives (p=0.005) and more likely to reach the correct diagnosis (p=0.001, OR 3.6, CI 1.8-7.4). Our survey found that, 65% of trainees had prior exposure to capsule endoscopy but only 13% had done capsule endoscopy reporting. Sixty seven percent felt capsule endoscopy should be incorporated into their training.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has shown that prior endoscopic experience enables trainees to interpret capsule endoscopy more accurately than medical students. However, there is a demand for focussed training which would enable trainees to reliably interpret pathology on capsule endoscopy.
Sidhu
R
R
Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, P Floor, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2JF, United Kingdom. reena_sidhu@yahoo.com
Sakellariou
P
P
McAlindon
M E
ME
Leeds
J S
JS
Shafiq
K
K
Hoeroldt
B S
BS
Hopper
A D
AD
Karmo
M
M
Salmon
C
C
Elphick
D
D
Ali
A
A
Sanders
D S
DS
D000328:Adult; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000193:education; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D013337:Students, Medical; D006113:United Kingdom