TY - JOUR
T1 - Endoscopic capacity in West Africa
AU - Perl, Daniel
AU - Leddin, Desmond
AU - Bizos, Damon
AU - Veitch, Andrew
AU - N’Dow, James
AU - Bush-Goddard, Stephanie
AU - Njie, Ramou
AU - Lemoine, Maud
AU - Anderson, Suzanne T.
AU - Igoe, John
AU - Anandasabapathy, Sharmila
AU - Shah, Brijen
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, Makerere University, Medical School. All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/3
Y1 - 2016/3
N2 - Background: Levels of endoscopic demand and capacity in West Africa are unclear. Objectives: This paper aims to: 1. describe the current labor and endoscopic capacity, 2. quantify the impact of a mixed-methods endoscopy course on healthcare professionals in West Africa, and 3. quantify the types of diagnoses encountered. Methods: In a three-day course, healthcare professionals were surveyed on endoscopic resources and capacity and were taught through active observation of live cases, case discussion, simulator experience and didactics. Before and after didactics, multiplechoice exams as well as questionnaires were administered to assess for course efficacy. Also, a case series of 23 patients needing upper GI endoscopy was done. Results: In surveying physicians, less than half had resources to perform an EGD and none could perform an ERCP, while waiting time for emergency endoscopy in urban populations was at least one day. In assessing improvement in medical knowledge among participants after didactics, objective data paired with subjective responses was more useful than either alone. Of 23 patients who received endoscopy, 7 required endoscopic intervention with 6 having gastric or esophageal varices. Currently the endoscopic capacity in West Africa is not sufficient. A formal GI course with simulation and didactics improves gastrointestinal knowledge amongst participants.
AB - Background: Levels of endoscopic demand and capacity in West Africa are unclear. Objectives: This paper aims to: 1. describe the current labor and endoscopic capacity, 2. quantify the impact of a mixed-methods endoscopy course on healthcare professionals in West Africa, and 3. quantify the types of diagnoses encountered. Methods: In a three-day course, healthcare professionals were surveyed on endoscopic resources and capacity and were taught through active observation of live cases, case discussion, simulator experience and didactics. Before and after didactics, multiplechoice exams as well as questionnaires were administered to assess for course efficacy. Also, a case series of 23 patients needing upper GI endoscopy was done. Results: In surveying physicians, less than half had resources to perform an EGD and none could perform an ERCP, while waiting time for emergency endoscopy in urban populations was at least one day. In assessing improvement in medical knowledge among participants after didactics, objective data paired with subjective responses was more useful than either alone. Of 23 patients who received endoscopy, 7 required endoscopic intervention with 6 having gastric or esophageal varices. Currently the endoscopic capacity in West Africa is not sufficient. A formal GI course with simulation and didactics improves gastrointestinal knowledge amongst participants.
KW - Endoscopic capacity
KW - Endoscopic demand
KW - Training course
KW - West Africa
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84966430679&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4314/ahs.v16i1.44
DO - 10.4314/ahs.v16i1.44
M3 - Article
C2 - 27358650
AN - SCOPUS:84966430679
SN - 1680-6905
VL - 16
SP - 329
EP - 338
JO - African Health Sciences
JF - African Health Sciences
IS - 1
ER -