title: Survey of endoscope reprocessing in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a growing emphasis on quality management in endoscope reprocessing. Previous surveys conducted in 2002 and 2004 were not practitioner-oriented. Therefore, this survey is significant for being the first to target actual participants in endoscope reprocessing in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  This survey comprised 33 self-filled questions, and was personally delivered to nurses and nursing auxiliaries in the endoscopy departments of eight hospitals belonging to the society. The anonymous responses were collected after 1 week either by post or in person by committee members.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey included 100 participants. In the questionnaire addressing compliance rates with the reprocessing guideline, the majority (98.9%) had a high compliance rate compared to 27% of respondents in 2002 and 50% in 2004. The lowest rate of compliance with a reprocessing procedure was reported for transporting the contaminated endoscope in a sealed container. Automated endoscope reprocessors were available in all hospitals. Regarding reprocessing time, more than half of the subjects replied that reprocessing took more than 15 minutes (63.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The quality management of endoscope reprocessing has improved as since the previous survey. A national survey expanded to include primary clinics is required to determine the true current status of endoscope reprocessing.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea.
authors: Jeong Bae
authors: JB
authors: Park
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea.
authors: Jae Nam
authors: JN
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea.
authors: Yun Jeong
authors: YJ
authors: Lim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Digestive Disease and Nutrition, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ja Seol
authors: JS
authors: Koo
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jae Young
authors: JY
authors: Jang
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, KEPCO Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sang Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Park
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors: Su Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Hong
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sang-Woo
authors: SW
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Digestive Disease and Nutrition, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hoon Jai
authors: HJ
authors: Chun
keywords: Data collection; Endoscopy; Reprocessing