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Endoscopic capacity in West Africa
Daniel Perl1, Desmond Leddin2, Damon Bizos3
1Gastroenterology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
African Health Sciences
|July 1, 2016
Summary
Endoscopic capacity in West Africa is insufficient, with limited resources for procedures like esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and no capacity for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). A training course significantly improved healthcare professionals' gastrointestinal knowledge.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Medical Education
- Healthcare Capacity Building
Background:
- Endoscopic demand and capacity in West Africa remain largely unquantified.
- Existing endoscopic resources are scarce, impacting timely patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the current labor and endoscopic capacity in West Africa.
- To assess the impact of a mixed-methods endoscopy course on healthcare professionals.
- To document the types of diagnoses encountered during endoscopic procedures.
Main Methods:
- A three-day mixed-methods endoscopy course incorporating live case observation, simulation, and didactics.
- Surveys administered to healthcare professionals regarding endoscopic resources and capacity.
- Pre- and post-didactic multiple-choice exams and questionnaires to evaluate knowledge gain.
- A case series of 23 patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Main Results:
- Less than half of surveyed physicians had resources for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD); none could perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
- Emergency endoscopy waiting times in urban areas were at least one day.
- Of 23 patients, 7 required endoscopic intervention, primarily for gastric or esophageal varices.
- Combined objective and subjective assessments proved most effective for evaluating knowledge improvement.
Conclusions:
- Current endoscopic capacity in West Africa is insufficient to meet demand.
- A formal gastrointestinal (GI) training course utilizing simulation and didactics effectively enhances participants' GI knowledge.
- Targeted interventions are needed to improve endoscopic resources and capacity in the region.
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