The current state of flexible sigmoidoscopy training in family medicine residency programs

The US Preventive Services Task Force has recommended that adults ages 50 and over be screened for colorectal cancer. Flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) is one available screening option. This study determined the current state of FS training in US family medicine residencies.

Directors of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited family medicine residencies were surveyed regarding FS training.

Of 486 mailed surveys, 370 (76%) were completed and returned. Fifty-two percent of responding residency programs trained at least one resident in FS in 2003. Residents in these programs performed a mean of 20.1 +/- 1.2 FSs during their training. In 2003, 44% of family medicine graduates from these programs were certified by their programs as competent to perform FS. Fewer residents were certified in FS by programs in the eastern versus western United States. Military programs certified more residents than did nonmilitary programs.

More than half of programs offered FS training, but less than half of family medicine graduates were certified by their programs as competent. There were significant differences for FS training by region and program type.