Quality in colonoscopy reporting: an assessment of compliance and performance improvement

An ASGE-ACG task force developed quality indicators (QI) for documenting quality endoscopic procedures. Acceptable compliance rates have not been determined.

To determine our degree of compliance to the intra-procedure colonoscopy QI prior to intervention, design an educational intervention to improve those with low compliance, and to compare the degree of compliance after intervention.

300 patients undergoing colonoscopy in the pre-intervention time period followed by 300 patients after the educational intervention were reviewed. Endoscopists were instructed on the required QI and provided with their individual baseline compliance results. Dictated endoscopy reports were reviewed for compliance.

Four QIs; documentation of bowel preparation adequacy, appendiceal orifice, photographs of cecum, and polyp shape, had low pre-intervention achievement (64%, 53%, 20%, and 15% respectively) and significant change was observed (83%, 68%, 63%, and 54% respectively, all p<0.001). Four QIs; documentation of ileocecal valve, polyp size description, polyp location description, and follow up recommendations, had high levels of achievement prior to intervention (92%, 98%, 97% and 81% respectively) and no significant change was observed (all p≥0.16).

This study provides benchmarks for ASGE/QIs in colonoscopy cases in a large group practice model. It demonstrates that a quality improvement intervention can result in improved compliance.