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Measuring gaze patterns during colonoscopy: a useful tool to evaluate colon inspection?
Vincent K Dik1, Ignace T C Hooge, Martijn G H van Oijen
1aDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center UtrechtbDepartment of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, UtrechtcDepartment of Medical Oncology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, AmsterdamdDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Eye-tracking technology is feasible for monitoring colonoscopy viewing patterns in real-time. This technology can objectively evaluate and compare how experienced endoscopists inspect the colon surface during procedures.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Medical Technology
- Endoscopy
Background:
- Adenoma detection rates in colonoscopies vary significantly among endoscopists.
- Differences in colon inspection techniques may explain these variations.
- Eye-tracking offers an objective method to analyze viewing patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of using eye-tracking technology during real-time colonoscopies.
- To investigate if eye-tracking can detect differences in endoscopist viewing patterns.
- To correlate gaze patterns with actual colon surface inspection.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 10 endoscopists performing two colonoscopies each.
- Utilized a mobile eye-tracking system to record gaze on the endoscopy monitor.
- Correlated monitor gaze with the visualized colonic surface across defined areas.
Main Results:
- Successful gaze pattern measurement in 18 of 20 procedures.
- Significant inter-endoscopist differences in time spent per monitor area.
- Strong correlation between measured gaze time and inspected colonic surface area (r=0.91-0.97).
- Experienced endoscopists showed better overlap between gaze and inspected areas (r=0.65, P=0.02).
Conclusions:
- Eye-tracking is a feasible technology for real-time colonoscopy.
- It can objectively measure and compare endoscopist gaze patterns.
- This technology may help evaluate viewing behavior and improve colon inspection quality.
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