title: Variation among endoscopy units in the achievement of the standards of colonoscopic performance indicators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the achievement of quality standards of colonoscopy at six endoscopy units.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three indicators were used to assess the quality of 1056 colonoscopies performed at six hospitals: cecal intubation; adequate colon cleansing; and removal and recovery of all detected polyps. Analyses were performed on the total number of colonoscopies and on colonoscopies in which polyps were actually detected. The accomplishment of each indicator and a global compound index of all three indicators, named the Problem Rate, were analyzed. Results from each endoscopy unit were compared to previously established standards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adequate colon cleansing was the most frequent problem for quality in all centers; adequate colon preparation was 67% (range 50 to 84%). The cecum was reached in 84% of all colonoscopies (range 76 to 90%). 75% of all patients (range 28. 79%) had all polyps excised and recovered. All centers had rates below standard for one or several indicators (p<0.01, all cases). Two of the participant hospitals had an overall problem rate above the estimated standard (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a significant variation in the achievement of quality standards of colonoscopy between endoscopy units. Colon cleansing is the most frequent quality problem for colonoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Group of Hospitals Hospiten, Tenerife, Spain. alsanchezrg@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez del Río
authors.forename: Rafel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Llach
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.forename: Ghassan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mreish
authors.forename: Agustí
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panadés
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nicolás
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quintero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seoane
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torra
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Argüello
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pertejo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brullett
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Junquera
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Puig-Divi
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Calvet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montserrat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000601:surgery; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care