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Comparison of colonoscopic performance between medical and nurse endoscopists: a non-inferiority randomised controlled study in Asia
  1. Aric J Hui1,
  2. James Y Lau2,
  3. Phyllis P Y Lam3,
  4. Alman O M Chui3,
  5. Alice S H Fan3,
  6. Thomas Y T Lam2,
  7. Yee-kit Tse2,
  8. Raymond S Y Tang2,
  9. Siew C Ng2,
  10. Justin C Y Wu2,
  11. Jessica Y L Ching2,
  12. Martin C S Wong4,
  13. Francis K L Chan2,
  14. Joseph Sung2
  1. 1Department of Medicine, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  2. 2Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  3. 3Combined Endoscopy Unit, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  4. 4School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  1. Correspondence to Dr Aric Josun Hui, Department of Medicine, Block J, 6/F, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, 11 Chuen On Road, Tai Po, Hong Kong, Hong Kong; arichui{at}yahoo.com

Abstract

Objective To test the hypothesis that trained nurse endoscopists are not inferior to medical endoscopists in finding adenomas during colonoscopy.

Design This is a prospective, randomised, single-blind, non-inferiority study comparing nurses with medical endoscopists in performing screening colonoscopy. The nurse endoscopists had been trained according to the British Joint Advisory Group on GI Endoscopy curriculum and had completed at least 140 colonoscopic procedures prior to the study. The primary endpoint was the adenoma detection rate. Secondary endpoints included the caecal intubation rate, intubation time, complication rate, patient pain and satisfaction scores.

Results We enrolled and analysed a total of 731 patients over a 15-month period. At least one adenoma was found in 159 (43.8%) of 363 patients by nurse endoscopists and 120 (32.7%) of 367 patients by medical endoscopists and a proportion difference of +11.1% compared with the medical endoscopists (95% CI 4.1% to 18.1%). The withdrawal time was, however, significantly longer among nurses (998 vs 575 s, p<0.001). After adjusting for differences in a regression analysis, colonoscopy by nurses was associated with a lower adenoma detection rate (OR 0.475: 95% CI 0.311 to 0.725). Nurse endoscopists had a lower caecal intubation rate (97.3% vs 100%), received better pain and satisfaction scores and had a high rate of patient acceptance.

Conclusions In this pragmatic trial, nurses can perform screening colonoscopy but require a longer procedural time to achieve a comparable adenoma detection rate as medical endoscopists.

Trial registration number NCT01923155.

  • colonoscopy
  • nurse endoscopist
  • colorectal cancer screening

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