Intensive training over 5 days improves colonoscopy skills long-term.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Skills Training

Background:

• Concerns regarding colonoscopy service quality and colorectal cancer screening necessitate robust training.
• High-quality colonoscopy training and competency assessment are crucial for effective screening programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a 1-week intensive hands-on colonoscopy training course.
• To assess the impact of novel assessment tools on colonoscopy skills.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study of 21 doctors with varied experience attending an accelerated colonoscopy training week (ACTW).
• Assessment included knowledge (MCQ), simulator performance, Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS), and video analysis of insertion technique.
• Training and assessment were conducted by two independent trainers at baseline, post-course, and at 9-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in MCQ scores (P < 0.001) and simulator test case times (P = 0.02, P = 0.003).
• Global DOPS scores also showed significant improvement (P < or = 0.02).
• All performance enhancements were sustained at the 9-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

• This study presents the first evidence of a positive, sustained impact from an intensive hands-on colonoscopy training course.
• The training course effectively improved performance in key colonoscopy skill acquisition areas.