Effect of 15 Minutes Brief Education for Medical Personnel in Diagnosing Barrett's Esophagus

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The higher prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease has preceded the increase of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma in Western countries. An increase of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma can also be predicted due to the increase of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Asia. Therefore, the ability of endoscopists to detect Barrett's esophagus can be important in the future. The aim of this study was to examine whether a short education program could improve the ability of gastrointestinal endoscopists and nurses to detect Barrett's esophagus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endoscopists and nurses of Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Center in Kosin Uinversity Gospel Hospital were enrolled in this study. Endoscopic images of biopsy proven Barrett's esophagus and normal gastroesophageal junction were obtained with conventional endoscopy. Thirty-seven still images of conventional endoscopy were used for slide test before and after 15 minutes education on Barrett's esophagus. RESULTS: Diagnostic ability of the doctor group after education did not changed (pre-education 79.6% vs. post-education 79.3%, P=0.906). Nurse group showed improved diagnostic ability for Barrett's esophagus after education (pre-education 68.7% vs. post-education 75.5%, P=0.008). After a short education program, inter-observer agreement of endoscopic diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus was improved in both doctor and nurse groups (doctor inter-observer correlation coefficient [ICC], 0.684→0.879; nurse ICC, 0.524→0.862). CONCLUSIONS: Even a short education program can improve the diagnostic ability, especially inter-observer agreement of endoscopic diagnosis for Barrett's esophagus. Further studies are needed to establish a role of education to improve diagnostic ability of Barrett's esophagus.