The Alberta Primary Care Endoscopy (APC-Endo) Study (APC-Endo)

Prospective Study of the Quality of Colonoscopies Performed by Primary Care Endoscopists in Alberta, Canada

It is hypothesized that primary care colonoscopists are able to achieve benchmarks in colonoscopy quality including cecal intubation and adenoma detection rates and serious adverse event rates.

This prospective study is the first in depth analysis of the quality of colonoscopic procedures performed by primary care physicians at a provincial level in Canada.

In addition, the APC Endo study is the first to directly examine both the quality of colonoscopy and patient satisfaction in the same study.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Endoscopy; Colon Disease; Screening Test
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: colonoscopy

Detailed Description

Discrepant data exists about the quality of colonoscopies performed by family physicians and general internists. Currently in Canada, gastroenterologists and general surgeons perform 97% of the colonoscopies, but excessive wait times highlight a shortage of colonoscopists in Canada. This shortage will invariably worsen as our population ages and more Canadians become screened for colorectal cancer.

One method of improving this relative shortage of colonoscopists is through training primary care physicians in GI medicine and endoscopy. In order these physicians to be a legitimate option in the provision of colonoscopies; however, it must be shown that, as a group, they are able to meet benchmarks in colonoscopy competency.

This multi-centre observational study will be the first study to prospectively analyze colonoscopic examinations performed by primary care physicians at a provincial level. Using primarily cecal intubation rates and adenoma detection rates, along with other quality parameters, this study will compare the results of Alberta primary care physicians to standard benchmarks in colonoscopy competency.

Data will be collected using case report forms completed at the time of the colonoscopy, reviewing the patients' colonoscopy pathology results and a post procedure telephone survey to examine patient satisfaction rates.

If this study demonstrates that quality benchmarks are indeed met, then future training of primary care physicians in gastrointestinal medicine and endoscopy would be encouraged to help address current and future colonoscopist shortages.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 577

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Alberta
    • Barrhead, Alberta, Canada, T7N 1M1
      • Barrhead Healthcare Centre
    • Bonnyville, Alberta, Canada, T9N 1M3
      • Bonnyville Healthcare Centre
    • Camrose, Alberta, Canada, T4V 1Y5
      • St. Mary's Hospital
    • Daysland, Alberta, Canada, T08 1A0
      • Daysland Health Centre
    • Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, T8V 0N5
      • Queen Elizabeth 2 Hospital
    • Lac La Biche, Alberta, Canada, T0A 2C0
      • William J. Cadzow Health Centre
    • Mclennan, Alberta, Canada, T0H 2L0
      • Sacred Heart Hospital
    • Peace River, Alberta, Canada, T8S 1T6
      • Peace River Community Health Centre
    • Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada, T0K 1W0
      • Pincher Creek Hospital
    • Ponoka, Alberta, Canada, T4J 1P1
      • Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre
    • St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, T8N 6C4
      • Sturgeon Community Hospital
    • Taber, Alberta, Canada, T1G 1N9
      • Taber Hospital
    • Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada, T7S 1M8
      • Whitecourt Healthcare Centre

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Physician colonoscopists: All Albertan family physicians and general internists who perform colonoscopies will be invited to voluntarily participate in anonymized data collection pertaining to the quality of colonoscopies they perform over a two month period.

All patients having a colonoscopy done by an APC-Endo physician endoscopist during the study period will be approached at the time of their endoscopy to consent to the post procedure telephone survey.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients having a colonoscopy done by an APC-Endo physician endoscopist during the study period will be approached at the time of their endoscopy to consent to the post procedure telephone.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients under the age of 18 years old
• Patients who will be unable to be contacted for the post procedure telephone survey. (e.g., moving out of the country in the following month)
• Patients who are unable to understand or speak basic English
• Patients who are cognitively impaired such that they were not able to complete the initial consent for their colonoscopy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Physician colonoscopists; All primary care physicians (family physicians and general internists) who perform colonoscopies were approached to voluntarily participate in the APC-Endo study. All patients having a colonoscopy done by an APC-Endo study physician endoscopist were approached at the time of their endoscopy to consent to the post procedure telephone survey.	Procedure: colonoscopy; Data pertaining to all colonoscopies performed by a APC-Endo study physician over a two month period will be collected.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Successful Cecal Intubations (Crude)	The percentage of successful cecal intubations (crude) = (total # of colonoscopies performed where cecal intubation was achieved / total # of colonoscopies attempted) x 100	At time of colonoscopy (DAY 1 of study)
Percentage of Successful Cecal Intubations (Adjusted)	The percentage of successful cecal intubations (adjusted) = total number of colonoscopies performed where cecal intubation was achieved / (total number of colonoscopies attempted -incomplete colonoscopies due to poor bowel preparation, colonic stricture, equipment failure or severe endoscopic colitis)	At time of colonoscopy (DAY 1 of study)
Adenoma Detection Ratio	The adenoma detection ratio is the number of pathologically verified adenomas per number of colonoscopies performed. Adenoma detection ratio = total number of pathologically confirmed adenomas / number of colonoscopies attempted.	When pathology from colonoscopy available (on average 2-3 weeks after procedure)
Percentage of Males 50 Years and Older Undergoing First Time Colonoscopy With an Adenoma	Percentage of patients with an adenoma = (number of patients who had at least one adenoma detected on colonoscopy / total number of colonoscopies attempted) x 100. For this specific outcome: we explored this outcome for males 50 years and older undergoing first time colonoscopy.	When pathology from colonoscopy available (on average 2-3 weeks after procedure)
Percentage of Females 50 Years and Older Undergoing First Time Colonoscopy With an Adenoma	Percentage of patients with an adenoma = (number of patients who had at least one adenoma detected on colonoscopy / total number of colonoscopies attempted) x 100. For this specific outcome: we explored this outcome for females 50 years and older undergoing first time colonoscopy.	[When pathology from colonoscopy available (on average 2-3 weeks after procedure)]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Colonoscopy Complications: Bleeding, Perforation, Cardiopulmonary Complications Secondary to Conscious Sedation, and Death.	Potential serious complications of colonoscopy include bleeding, perforation, cardiopulmonary complications secondary to conscious sedation and death. Potential serious complications will be determined from the case report form (physician reported) and at patient satisfaction phone survey (on average four weeks after colonoscopy). All potential serious complications of colonoscopy will be externally adjudicated.	Within four (4) weeks of colonoscopy
Colonoscopy Withdraw Time in Cases Where no Lesions Found	Withdrawal time will be defined as the time from leaving the cecum until the colonoscope exits the anus. This will be calculated for cases in which no lesions were found.	At time of colonoscopy (DAY 1 of study)
Patient Comfort During Colonoscopy	To determine the patients' comfort level during the colonoscopy, a five-item question used by the Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in the United Kingdom will be used. Patient discomfort on the 5 point scale: 0 is no discomfort; is one or two episodes of discomfort, well tolerated;; is more than two episodes of discomfort adequately tolerated;; is significant discomfort experienced several times during the procedure;; is extreme discomfort experienced frequency throughout the procedure. Minimum value = 0, maximum value = 4 with 4 being worse.	At time of colonoscopy (DAY 1 of study)
Patient Satisfaction With Endoscopy Wait Time	Patient satisfaction with endoscopy wait time will be recorded using a 7 point Likert scale at the time of the patient phone survey. 7 is extremely satisfied and 1 is extremely dissatisfied minimum score = 1 maximum score = 7	At patient satisfaction phone survey (on average 4 weeks after colonoscopy)
Patient Satisfaction With Hospital Experience for Colonoscopy	Patient satisfaction with their hospital experience during their colonoscopy will be recorded by using a 7 point Likert scale at the time of the patient satisfaction phone survey. 7 = extremely satisfied 1 = extremely dissatisfied Minimum score = 1 Maximum score = 7	At patient satisfaction phone survey (on average 4 weeks after colonoscopy)
Colonoscopy Procedure Time	Colonoscopic procedural time will be defined as the time from the first insertion of the colonoscope until it is removed from the anus.	At time of colonoscopy (DAY 1 of study)
Percentage of Patients Referred to a Specialist.	The percentage of patients who are anticipated to be referred to specialists, for the gastrointestinal complaint for which the colonoscopy was performed will be determined and the reason for referral will be tabulated. The referral percentage will be determined both from the time of colonoscopy (physician reported) and from the patient satisfaction phone survey (patient reported).	Within four (4) weeks of colonoscopy

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Alberta
• Collaborators: Alberta Ministry of Health - Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan
• Investigators: Study Director: Michael R Kolber, MD, CCFP, University of Alberta; Principal Investigator: Brian H Rowe, MD, CCFP(EM), University of Alberta

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2010
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 3, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 22, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): March 23, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): August 15, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 14, 2012
• Last Verified: August 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: colonoscopy; primary care physicians; quality assurance
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Intestinal Diseases; Colonic Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2011-APCEndo-MK