title: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Establishing the key unanswered research questions within gastrointestinal endoscopy.
abstract: Background and study aim:Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a rapidly evolving research field. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) plays a key role in shaping opinion and endoscopy activity throughout Europe and further afield. Establishing key unanswered questions within the field of endoscopy and prioritizing those that are important enables researchers and funders to appropriately allocate resources.Methods:Over 2 years, the ESGE Research Committee gathered information on research priorities and refined them through a modified Delphi approach. Consultations were held with the ESGE Governing Board and Quality Improvement Committee to identify important unanswered questions. Research workshops were held at the 21st United European Gastroenterology Week. Research questions were refined by the ESGE Research Committee and Governing Board, compiled into an online survey, and distributed to all ESGE members, who were invited to rank each question by priority.Results:The final questionnaire yielded 291 responses from over 60 countries. The three countries with the highest response rates were Spain, Italy, and United Kingdom. Most responders were from teaching hospitals (62 %) and were specialist endoscopists (51 %). Responses were analyzed with weighted rankings, resulting in prioritization of 26 key unanswered questions. The top ranked generic questions were: 1) How do we define the correct surveillance interval following endoscopic diagnosis? 2) How do we correctly utilize advanced endoscopic imaging? 3) What are the best markers of endoscopy quality?Conclusion:Following this comprehensive process, the ESGE has identified and ranked the key unanswered questions within the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy. Researchers, funders, and journals should prioritize studies that seek to answer these important questions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, South Tyneside District Hospital, South Shields, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Colin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, South Tyneside District Hospital, South Shields, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Wee Sing
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ngu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Oncology, Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education and the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Jaroslaw
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Regula
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Raf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bisschops
authors.affiliation: Research Centre of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saftoiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Evelien
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.affiliation: Institute of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Ha'Emek Medical Centre, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gralnek
authors.affiliation: Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Clinic, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciocirlan
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Instituto Portugues de Oncologia, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dinis-Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital General Universitario, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jover
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Herlev, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meisner
authors.affiliation: Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spada
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Nuovo Regina Margherita Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valori
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hucl
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatopancreatology and Digestive Oncology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Le Moine
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Josephs-Hospital Warendorf, Academic Teaching Hospital, University of Münster, Warendorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Domagk
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Oncology, Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education and the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Michal F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management and Health Economics and KG Jebsen Center for Colorectal Cancer Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bretthauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rutter
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aabakken
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Diseases, Hospital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ponchon
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fockens
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Medical Center, NIjmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Siersema
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D011643:Publishing / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012106:Research; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers