PURPOSE: The present study was aimed at evaluating the usefulness of box simulators for training novice endoscopists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An explanation of the goals, contents, and features of the simulator was given to study participants. The participants then received "hands-on training" in gastrointestinal endoscopy techniques using a box simulator. Subsequently, they were asked to answer 19 structured questions about the simulator. Ratings were scored on a scale from 1 to 5 for questions concerning their first impression of the simulator. Questions on the usefulness of the simulator and the training course were answered as "agree", "disagree", or "no opinion". RESULTS: A total of 32 participants filled out the questionnaire. The mean scores on the simulator's usefulness, features, and realistic movements before the training were between 1.5 and 2.0. There were no significant differences between the mean values of the scores given by novice users compared to non-novice users. However, after receiving training on the simulator, 90.6% of the participants considered the box simulator a generally useful tool for learning basic endoscopic techniques, and 90.6% agreed that the simulator was useful for improving hand-eye coordination. CONCLUSION: Box simulators may be useful for training novice endoscopists in basic gastrointestinal endoscopic techniques.
*Computer Simulation ; Endoscopy/*education ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/education ; Humans ; Questionnaires

Gastrointestinal endoscopy is important in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of many diseases of the digestive tract. The ability to perform esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) safely, effectively, and efficiently has become the mainstay of gastroenterology practice. In Korea, EGD education is usually imparted as a component of gastroenterology training programs during fellowship. In this review, we discuss the general principles of EGD training. Formal curriculum development with devising clear goals and effective training methods should be developed in the future.
Curriculum ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Endoscopy* ; Endoscopy, Digestive System* ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Fellowships and Scholarships ; Gastroenterology ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Korea

The Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (KSGE) developed a gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy board in 1995 and related regulations. Although the KSGE has acquired many specialists since then, the education and training aims and guidelines were insufficient. During GI fellowship training, obtaining sufficient exposure to some types of endoscopic procedures is difficult. Fellows should acquire endoscopic skills through supervised endoscopic procedures during GI fellowship training. Thus, the KSGE requires training guidelines for fellowships that allow fellows to perform independent endoscopic procedures without supervision. This document is intended to provide principles that the Committee of Education and Training of the KSGE can use to develop practical guidelines for granting privileges to perform accurate GI endoscopy safely. The KSGE will improve the quality of GI endoscopy by providing guidelines for fellowships and supervisors.
Education* ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal* ; Fellowships and Scholarships ; Financing, Organized ; Organization and Administration ; Social Control, Formal ; Specialization

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy is a necessary procedure for making the diagnosis of UGI diseases. However, it may evoke anxiety due to the procedural discomfort before endoscopy. There have been few detailed studies that have evaluated the anxiety of patients who undergo UGI endoscopy in Korea. The aim of this study is to evaluate the patient's anxiety associated with UGI endoscopy and to determine the methods to improve the tolerance of patients to UGI endoscopy. METHODS: From May to September 2004, we assessed 38 patients who received UGI endoscopy for the first time as outpatients at Korea University, Anam Hospital. One group was examined with UGI endoscopy after being sedated. The patient's anxiety was rated at baseline and immediately before the procedure. RESULTS: Endoscopy was associated with a significant increase in anxiety (prior to procedure, 48.53 vs. baseline, 43.58, p<0.001) but not trait anxiety (43.92 vs. 43.63, p=0.70). The procedural anxiety was not influenced by gender, age or the education level, but it was correlated with conscious sedation (without CS, 5.67+/-0.23 vs. with CS, 4.06+/-0.16, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sedating the patient during UGI endoscopy is an effective method to lower procedural anxiety.
Anxiety* ; Conscious Sedation ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal* ; Humans ; Korea ; Outpatients

The Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy introduced the Accredited Endoscopy Unit Program to enhance endoscopy unit quality through systematic quality management in 2012. It was gradually expanded from training hospitals to institutions with 100+ beds, and the criteria for certification were applied according to the actual conditions of each institution. On the basis of the continuous communication with the institutions and feedback, the Accredited Endoscopy Unit Program certification criteria were revised in 2019 and introduced as follows: (1) the qualification criteria for endoscopy doctors and nurses; (2) facilities and equipment; (3) endoscopic examination process; (4) performance; (5) disinfection and infection control; and (6) endoscopic sedation. The assessment items consist of essential and recommended items. All essential items must be met for accreditation to be awarded. The assessment criteria for each evaluation area were revised as follows: (1) upgrading assessment criteria; (2) qualification of endoscopists and reinforcement of quality control education; (3) detailed standards for safety, disinfection, endoscopic sedation, and management instructions; and (4) presentation of new performance measurement of endoscopy and colonoscopy.
Accreditation ; Awards and Prizes ; Certification ; Colonoscopy ; Disinfection ; Education ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Infection Control ; Korea ; Quality Control

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the effect of behavioral relaxation training on distress and cancer screening intention of patients with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.METHODS: The research was conducted in a non-equivalent control group posttest design. Data were collected from endoscopy subjects in B city from October to November of 2018. Fifteen minutes of behavioral relaxation training were provided to the experimental group (n=40) and traditional relaxation therapy methods were provided to the control group (n=40). Outcome measures were distress and cancer screening intention of patients with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Data were analyzed with a χ²-test, independent t-test, Fisher's exact test with SPSS/PC version 23.0.RESULTS: The objective discomfort (t=8.81, p<.001) of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group; there were no significant differences in the subjective discomfort (t=1.73, p=.088). The cancer screening intention (t=−5.85, p<.001) of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group.CONCLUSION: Behavioral relaxation training was effective in heightening cancer screening intention. Therefore it can be usefully applied to increase cancer screening intention.
Early Detection of Cancer ; Education ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Humans ; Intention ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Relaxation Therapy ; Relaxation

A thorough disinfection and infection control process associated with gastrointestinal endoscopy is highly important for the health and safety of the examinee and the medical staff involved in the procedure. Endoscopic reprocessing and disinfection are two of the most important steps in quality control of endoscopy. In 2019, the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy updated the Accreditation of Qualified Endoscopy Unit assessment items for these quality indicators. Assessment of disinfection and infection control comprises 28 mandatory items in the categories of disinfection education, pre-cleaning, cleaning, disinfection, rinsing, drying, reprocessing, storage, endoscopic accessories, water bottle and connectors, space/facilities, personal protective equipment, disinfection ledger, and regulations regarding infection control and disinfection. The updated Accreditation of Qualified Endoscopy Unit assessment items are useful for improving the quality of endoscopy by ensuring thorough inspection of endoscopic disinfection and infection control.
Accreditation ; Disinfection ; Education ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Medical Staff ; Personal Protective Equipment ; Quality Control ; Social Control, Formal ; Water

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients who undergo endoscopic biopsy suffer anxiety until results are confirmed. This study assesses the effects of written educational material on the anxiety level of patients following endoscopic biopsy. METHODS: This study was a randomized controlled study trial with 83 patients divided into the following three groups: a biopsy group given written educational material prepared by our institution following the biopsy (intervention group, n=28), a biopsy group without written material (biopsy only group, n=25), and a control group without biopsy (control group, n=30). The anxiety level of each patient was evaluated three times using Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI): for baseline at the first visit to our institution, at the day of endoscopy, one day later, and one week after the procedure. We compared baseline characteristics, STAI scores at each visit, and differences in STAI scores among the three groups. RESULTS: No difference was found in STAI score among groups at baseline and before and after the endoscopic procedure. However, the STAI-state score of the intervention group was slightly lower than biopsy only group one day post-procedure (40.3+/-7.7 vs. 43.9+/-7.1, p=0.135). The STAI-state score significantly decreased from pre- to post-procedure only in the intervention group (-2.75+/-6.1 vs. 0.92+/-4.0, p<0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Use of written educational material for patients having biopsy might lessen their anxiety level.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; *Anxiety ; Biopsy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Education as Topic ; *Program Evaluation ; Prospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: People around the world are increasingly choosing to undergo colorectal cancer screening via colonoscopy. As a result, guideline adherence to postpolypectomy colonoscopy surveillance has drawn increasing attention. The present study was performed to assess recognition and adherence to guidelines among primary care physicians and gastroenterologists and to identify characteristics associated with compliance. METHODS: A nationwide sample of primary care physicians employed at cancer screening facilities and registered members of the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy were recruited. Participants were asked to complete a survey of six hypothetical clinical scenarios designed to assess their potential course of action in response to screening or follow-up colonoscopy results. Frequencies and odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for guideline adherence were estimated. RESULTS: The proportions of doctors recommending shortened colonoscopy surveillance intervals for low- and high-risk adenomas were greater than 90% among primary physicians and were much lower among gastroenterologists. Guideline adherence was relatively good among groups of doctors who were young, had a specialty in gastroenterology, worked at tertiary hospitals, and cared for an appropriate number of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals a remaining discrepancy between practitioner recommendations and current guidelines for postpolypectomy surveillance. Several factors were shown to be related to guideline adherence, suggesting a need for appropriate control and continuing education or training programs among particular groups of practitioners.
Adenoma ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Compliance ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Education ; Education, Continuing ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastroenterology ; Guideline Adherence* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Odds Ratio ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Tertiary Care Centers

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Only a few reports have examined informed consent for gastrointestinal endoscopy in Korea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the appropriateness of the informed consent procedure in Korea. METHODS: A total of 209 patients who underwent endoscopy were asked to answer a self-administered structured questionnaire on the informed consent procedure for gastrointestinal endoscopy. RESULTS: One hundred thirteen patients completed questionnaires and were enrolled. In the survey, 91.2% answered that they understood the procedure, and the degree of understanding decreased with age; 85.8% were informed of the risks of the procedure, and the proportion was higher for inpatients and for those receiving therapeutic endoscopy or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; 60.2% were informed of alternative methods, and the proportion was higher in older patients; 76.1% had the opportunity to ask questions during the informed consent procedure, and the proportion was higher in inpatients. The understanding of the risks of the endoscopic procedure was better in the younger and more highly educated groups. About 80% had sedation before endoscopy, and only 56% were informed of the risks of sedation during endoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: The current informed consent process may be reasonably acceptable and understandable to the patients. However, the understanding of the risks of endoscopy was insufficient especially in the cases of older, poorly educated patients and outpatients. The information about alternatives, the opportunity to ask for additional information, and the information about the risks of sedation during endoscopy were also insufficient in the current consent process.
Adult ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Conscious Sedation ; *Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Humans ; Informed Consent/*psychology/*standards ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Patient Education as Topic/*standards ; *Patient Satisfaction ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors