Does trainee participation during colonoscopy affect adenoma detection rates?
INTRODUCTION: Training future endoscopists is essential to meeting the increasing demands for colonoscopy. It remains unknown whether adenoma detection rates are adversely affected by trainee participation. METHODS: This is a single-center, prospective study. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether adenoma detection rates differed between procedures with or without trainee involvement. A total of 368 consecutive patients entered the analysis (181 with trainee participation and 187 without). RESULTS: Adenomas were detected in 19.3% of experienced physician-only procedures and in 14.9% of procedures with trainee participation. Advanced adenomas were detected in 8.6% of experienced physicians’ procedures vs. 4.9% of trainee procedures. Polyp detection was nearly identical in both groups (32% for experienced physicians; 33% for trainees). Trainee participation delayed the procedure by a mean of seven minutes. CONCLUSION: Adenoma detection rates did not differ significantly
