Strategies for training in diagnostic upper endoscopy: a prospective, randomized trial

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Training

Background:

• Diagnostic endoscopy training lacks standardization despite simulator use.
• Developing a standardized educational strategy is crucial for effective endoscopic training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a training strategy for diagnostic upper endoscopy (EGD).
• To compare the efficacy of clinical training, simulator training, and a combination of both.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, randomized trial involving 28 residents with no prior endoscopic experience.
• Residents were assigned to clinical plus simulator training, clinical training only, or simulator training only.
• Evaluations included basic skills tests, simulator performance, and clinical case observations.

Main Results:

• All groups showed improved procedure times and skills scores on the simulator.
• The combined clinical and simulator training group demonstrated shorter times to reach the esophagus and pylorus during clinical evaluations.
• Blinded assessment revealed superior EGD skills in the combined training group compared to simulator-only training.

Conclusions:

• Structured simulator training supplementing clinical training enhances upper endoscopy skills.
• Simulator training alone is insufficient for developing proficiency in diagnostic endoscopy.
• Further research is needed, acknowledging the limitation of a small sample size.