Related Experiment Videos
Practice Audit in Gastroenterology (PAGE) program: a novel approach to continuing professional development
David Armstrong1, Roger Hollingworth, Tara Gardiner
1Division of Gastroenterology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. armstro@mcmaster.ca
Summary
Personal digital assistants simplify practice audits for healthcare professionals, making continuing professional development more accessible. The Practice Audit in Gastroenterology-Endoscopy (PAGE-Endo) and PAGE-Colonoscopy (PAGE-Colo) programs were found to be easy to use and beneficial.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Gastroenterology
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Practice audits are crucial for continuing professional development but can be complex.
- This study explored using personal digital assistants (PDAs) to simplify data collection and review for practice audits.
- The aim was to assess the feasibility and utility of PDAs in gastroenterological practice audits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of PDAs in facilitating practice audits for gastroenterologists, surgeons, and internists.
- To assess the ease of use, perceived value, and willingness to repeat audits using the PDA program.
- To analyze procedural data collected via PDAs for upper gastrointestinal endoscopies and colonoscopies.
Main Methods:
- Developed and deployed PDA-based questionnaires: Practice Audit in Gastroenterology-Endoscopy (PAGE-Endo) and PAGE-Colonoscopy (PAGE-Colo).
- Participants recorded procedure indications, expected vs. reported findings, and compliance over a three-week audit period.
- Assessed ease of use, value, and willingness to re-audit post-implementation.
Main Results:
- High participant adoption: 173 completed PAGE-Endo (6168 procedures) and 111 completed PAGE-Colo (4776 procedures).
- Overwhelmingly positive feedback: 99% found PAGE easy to use, 88-95% found it beneficial, and 92-95% were willing to re-audit.
- Identified discrepancies between expected and reported findings for common endoscopic findings and noted interprovincial variations in colonoscopy practices.
Conclusions:
- The PAGE program, utilizing PDAs for secure, real-time data entry and review, offers an acceptable and straightforward methodology for accredited practice audits.
- This approach has significant potential to enhance continuing professional development in gastroenterology and other medical specialties.
- PDA-facilitated audits provide valuable insights into practice patterns and potential areas for improvement.