Adenoma detection rate is a key colonoscopy quality metric. A new study published in the Red Journal has found physician report cards and the implementation of standards of practice can significantly improve ADR. Here are four things to know about the study.
1. The study examined ADR at a single academic medical center from November 2012 to October 2014. In the first phase, ADR was examined before physician report card and SOP establishment. In the second phase, ADR was examined after the initial implementation of report cards and SOP. In the third phase, the study authors examined ADR after the second report card and SOP implementation.
2. The SOP required physicians to have a minimum five-minute withdrawal time and a minimum ADR of 20 percent. Physicians who did not meet the benchmarks were required to undergo further training or block time alterations.
3. Twenty endoscopists, who performed 12,894 colonoscopies in the 23-month period, were included in the study. Overall, the physicians' ADRs improved by 11 percent over the course of the study.
4. The study authors concluded that repot cards and SOP can play a significant role in improving colonoscopy quality. They suggested their implementation in endoscopy labs.