New class helps endoscopists improve tumor detection rate

The ability of a physician to detect adenomas during a colonoscopy is linked to a reduced risk for the patient of developing a new cancer after the procedure. Now, researchers and physicians at the Mayo Clinic in Florida have developed a two-hour course designed to increase a doctor's adenoma detection rate.

In a study published online Jan. 8 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, the researchers, in an effort to measure how well the course helps improve ADR, first looked at the adenoma detection rates of 15 Mayo Clinic endoscopists, who had a success rate of 35 percent, almost twice the national average of 20 percent. Seven of the 15 then were randomly selected to take the ADR course, after which their success rate increased to 47 percent. "This relatively simple education program substantially increased the proficiency of physicians who are already skilled," lead researcher Michael Wallace, M.D. said. "Many people in the field think it is hard to change an endoscopist's level of proficiency, but we show that is not the case." Article