Defining competencies for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric neoplasms

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Education

Background:

• Current endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) training lacks standardization, hindering skill acquisition.
• A need exists to define core competencies for proficient ESD performance in gastric neoplasms.

Framework:

• Utilized Delphi methodology with 14 ESD experts from 12 Japanese institutions.
• Experts rated potential competencies via online surveys over three consensus rounds.

Implementation:

• Literature, textbooks, and expert experience informed initial competency items.
• Consensus required items ranked ≥8/10 by ≥80% of respondents.
• Thirty-four essential competencies for ESD were identified.

Implications:

• Established expert consensus on critical ESD competencies.
• Provides a basis for developing standardized ESD training curricula.
• Facilitates the creation of objective assessment tools for ESD proficiency.