Digital recording and documentation of endoscopic procedures: physicians' practice and perspectives

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Medical Informatics
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Digital recording of endoscopic procedures (DRD) is increasingly prevalent globally.
• This practice presents educational, ethical, and legal considerations influencing adoption.
• A survey study was conducted to evaluate DRD use and physician attitudes in Israel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current use of DRD in endoscopic procedures among Israeli physicians.
• To examine physicians' support for DRD and identify factors influencing their decisions.
• To map considerations physicians weigh regarding the adoption of DRD.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous survey distributed to Israeli physicians in specialties utilizing endoscopic techniques.
• Data collected on demographics, DRD equipment availability, institutional guidelines, and personal attitudes towards DRD.
• Physician attitudes were self-ranked on a scale of 1 to 7.

Main Results:

• 84% performed endoscopic procedures, 78% had DRD equipment, but only 64% recorded procedures routinely.
• General surgeons had high equipment rates (96.5%) but low usage (17.5%).
• Physician support for DRD averaged 5.07 ± 1.9; higher support and guidelines correlated with increased recording. Fear of lawsuits was the primary deterrent, while teaching potential was the main incentive.

Conclusions:

• DRD equipment is widespread in Israel, yet actual recording rates remain low and vary by specialty.
• Institutional guidelines and physician support positively correlate with DRD adoption.
• Addressing concerns about legal risks and promoting educational benefits are crucial for increasing DRD use, especially in reluctant specialties.