Assessing the Impact of a Structured Capsule Endoscopy Training Program Using a New Validated Assessment Tool

We aimed to develop and validate a simple capsule endoscopy (CE) training assessment tool, the Capsule Endoscopy Training Assessment (CETA), and prospectively use it to analyze the learning progression achieved by participants in our CE training program.

Over a 3-year period, all participants in our CE training program completed pre-training and post-training CETA, ranging between 0% and 100%, and encompassing theoretical questions and interpretation of segmented CE videos. We compared the mean differences in overall, theoretical, and practical pre-training and post-training CETA, and assessed the influence of previous endoscopic experience (upper gastrointestinal endoscopy [UGE], colonoscopy, device-assisted enteroscopy [DAE] and CE) using generalized linear models.

Fifty-seven participants were included. After training, there was a significant increase in participants' overall (mean difference, 26.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 20.70 to 31.83), theoretical (mean difference, 27.2; 95% CI, 19.81 to 34.57), and practical (mean difference, 25.9; 95% CI, 20.09 to 31.63) CETA components. Compared to those without experience, participants with previous endoscopic experience demonstrated a smaller increase in overall CETA after training (UGE, rate ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.91; colonoscopy (rate ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; DAE (rate ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.97; CE, rate ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.72 to 0.92, respectively).

CETA is a valid and useful tool in assessing the learning progression achieved by participants following the CE training program. We demonstrated a significant improvement in participants' CETA after training, being the least experienced participants in endoscopic procedures who benefited the most from CE training.