Access to inflammatory bowel disease speciality care: the primary healthcare physician perspective.

BACKGROUND: There is little literature related to access to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care that incorporates the perspective of key system stakeholders, such as primary healthcare providers (PHCP), despite their clear and integral role in facilitating access. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify barriers to referring patients to speciality IBD care as perceived by referring PHCP. In particular, we sought to understand PHCP satisfaction with the current IBD specialist referral system, as well as indicators of geographic variance to access. METHODS: A population-based survey was mailed out to currently practising PHCPs who have referred or who are currently referring patients to IBD speciality care in Nova Scotia (Canada). Descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses were performed. Qualitative comments were themed using framework analysis to identify key barriers. RESULTS: The majority of PHCP (57%) were dissatisfied with the current referral process due to long patient wait times and perceived system inefficiency. Key areas of geographic variance in access included access to speciality care in the community and patient wait times. PHCPs suggested ideas to improve access including increased gastroenterologist supply, particularly in rural areas, and the creation of a provincial centralized referral and triage process. CONCLUSIONS: PHCPs play an important role in identifying and managing patients with IBD in partnership with gastroenterologists. This study identifies key PHCP perceived barriers that may prevent patients from accessing speciality IBD care. Understanding and addressing barriers to access from multiple stakeholder perspectives, including PHCPs, has the potential to support informed system redesign and overcome access inequities.

Primary healthcare providers (e.g. family doctors and nurse practitioners) play an important role in connecting patients with speciality health care. Patients with digestive diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g. Crohn's and colitis), may rely on primary healthcare providers to connect them with inflammatory bowel disease specialists (e.g. gastroenterologists). Past research on access to inflammatory bowel disease care has focused on the patient perspective; however, almost no research has focused on how primary healthcare providers perceive access to inflammatory bowel disease speciality care, despite their important role in facilitating access. This paper focuses on what 155 primary healthcare providers in Nova Scotia (Canada) perceive as key barriers for their patients when accessing speciality Inflammatory bowel disease care. This paper also presents potential improvements to the referral process and healthcare system, as suggested by primary healthcare providers, which may improve global access to inflammatory bowel disease care.

Incidence of Celiac Disease Is Increasing Over Time: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis that defines the worldwide incidence of celiac disease (CD) and examines temporal trends. METHODS: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for population-based studies reporting the incidence of CD in the overall population, children, or adults. No limits were placed on year or language of publication. Studies solely examining at-risk populations (e.g., patients with type 1 diabetes) were excluded. Random-effects models were performed to meta-analyze sex- and age-specific incidence in the 21st century. Temporal trend analyses assessed the average annual percent change in CD incidence over time. RESULTS: Of 11,189 citations, 86 eligible studies were identified for inclusion, of which 50 were deemed suitable for analyses. In the 21st century, the pooled female incidence of CD was 17.4 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.7, 21.1) (I = 99.5%) per 100,000 person-years, compared with 7.8 (95% CI: 6.3, 9.2) (I = 98.6%) in males. Child-specific incidence was 21.3 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 15.9, 26.7) (I = 99.7%) compared with 12.9 (95% CI: 7.6, 18.2) (I = 99.9%) in adults. Pooling average annual percent changes showed the incidence of CD to be increasing by 7.5% (95% CI: 5.8, 9.3) (I = 79.6%) per year over the past several decades. DISCUSSION: Incidence of CD is highest in females and children. Overall, the incidence has been significantly rising in the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st century throughout the Western world. Population-based studies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are needed to provide a comprehensive picture of the global incidence of CD.

Variable Quality and Readability of Patient-oriented Websites on Colorectal Cancer Screening.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The efficacy of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is dependent on participation and subsequent adherence to surveillance. The internet increasingly is used for health information and is important to support decision making. We evaluated the accuracy, quality, and readability of online information on CRC screening and surveillance. METHODS: A Website Accuracy Score and Polyp Score were developed, which awarded points for various aspects of CRC screening and surveillance. Websites also were evaluated using validated internet quality instruments (Global Quality Score, LIDA, and DISCERN), and reading scores. Two raters independently assessed the top 30 websites appearing on Google.com. Portals, duplicates, and news articles were excluded. RESULTS: Twenty websites were included. The mean website accuracy score was 26 of 44 (range, 9-41). Websites with the highest scores were www.cancer.org, www.bowelcanceraustralia.org, and www.uptodate.com. The median polyp score was 3 of 10. The median global quality score was 3 of 5 (range, 2-5). The median overall LIDA score was 74% and the median DISCERN score was 45, both indicating moderate quality. The mean Flesch-Kincaid grade level was 11th grade, rating the websites as difficult to read, 30% had a reading level acceptable for the general public (Flesch Reading Ease > 60). There was no correlation between the Google rank and the website accuracy score (rs = -0.31; P = .18). CONCLUSIONS: There is marked variation in quality and readability of websites on CRC screening. Most websites do not address polyp surveillance. The poor correlation between quality and Google ranking suggests that screenees will miss out on high-quality websites using standard search strategies.

Pregnant Women's Views on the Feasibility and Acceptability of Web-Based Mental Health E-Screening Versus Paper-Based Screening: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Major international guidelines recommend mental health screening during the perinatal period. However, substantial barriers to screening have been reported by pregnant and postpartum women and perinatal care providers. E-screening offers benefits that may address implementation challenges. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of Web-based mental health e-screening compared with paper-based screening among pregnant women. A secondary objective was to identify factors associated with women's preferences for e-screening and disclosure of mental health concerns. METHODS: Pregnant women recruited from community and hospital-based antenatal clinics and hospital-based prenatal classes were computer-randomized to a fully automated Web-based e-screening intervention group or a paper-based control group. Women were eligible if they spoke or read English, were willing to be randomized to e-screening, and were willing to participate in a follow-up diagnostic interview. The intervention group completed the Antenatal Psychosocial Health Assessment and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale on a tablet computer, while controls completed them on paper. All women completed self-report baseline questions and were telephoned 1 week after randomization by a blinded research assistant for a MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Renker and Tonkin's tool of feasibility and acceptability of computerized screening was used to assess the feasibility and acceptability of e-screening compared with paper-based screening. Intention-to-treat analysis was used. To identify factors associated with preference for e-screening and disclosure, variables associated with each outcome at P<.20 were simultaneously entered into final multivariable models to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS: Of the 675 eligible women approached, 636 agreed to participate (participation rate 94.2%) and were randomized to the intervention (n=305) or control (n=331) groups. There were no significant baseline differences between groups. More women in the e-screening group strongly or somewhat agreed that they would like to use a tablet for answering questions on emotional health (57.9%, 175/302 vs 37.2%, 121/325) and would prefer using a tablet to paper (46.0%, 139/302 vs 29.2%, 95/325), compared with women in the paper-based screening group. There were no differences between groups in women's disclosure of emotional health concerns (94.1%, 284/302 vs 90.2%, 293/325). Women in the e-screening group consistently reported the features of e-screening more favorably than controls (more private or confidential, less impersonal, less time-consuming). In the multivariable models, being in the e-screening group was significantly associated with preferring e-screening (AOR 2.29, 95% CI 1.66-3.17), while no factors were significantly associated with disclosure. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that mental health e-screening is feasible and acceptable to pregnant women. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01899534; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01899534 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6ntWg1yWb).

Gastroscopy for dyspeptic symptoms in patients <65 years has a low yield of clinically important findings: a retrospective study.

Background: Dyspepsia is a common, generally low-risk gastrointestinal condition. The American College of Gastroenterology and Canadian Association of Gastroenterology recommend avoiding gastroscopy in healthy patients <60 years old. Many dyspeptic patients can be effectively managed in primary care. This study aimed to determine: (1) the proportion of gastroscopies performed for dyspepsia among patients <65 years old with no alarm symptoms or clinically appropriate indications and (2) to determine the frequency of clinically actionable findings and dyspepsia-related healthcare utilization in the year following gastroscopy. Methods: Outpatient endoscopy reports were sampled and reviewed retrospectively from 2019 to -2021 in Edmonton, Alberta to identify gastroscopies performed for the indication of dyspepsia. Gastroscopies were considered low-risk for significant endoscopic findings if age <65, no alarm symptoms or other concerning indications, and insufficient evidence that first-line treatments and diagnostic approaches had been tried prior to gastroscopy. Clinically important findings were defined as those impacting management, not otherwise identifiable non-invasively. Results: Of the 358 reviewed gastroscopies for dyspepsia, 293 (81.8%) had no alarm symptoms, and 130 (36.3%) had no alarm symptoms or other appropriate indications. Clinically important findings were identified in 9 (6.9%) of the 130 low-risk cases. In the year following, one patient (1/130) visited the emergency department 3 times for their symptoms and no patients required hospital admission. No malignancies were detected. Conclusions: Many gastroscopies are performed on patients <65 years old with dyspepsia, even when they lack alarm symptoms or other clinical indications, despite recommendations against this practice and low procedure yield. Strategies to improve the uptake of current guidelines may optimize endoscopy resource utilization.

Esomeprazole for prevention and resolution of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients treated with low-dose acetylsalicylic acid for cardiovascular protection: the OBERON trial.

Although low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is recommended for prevention of cardiovascular events in at-risk patients, its long-term use can be associated with the risk of peptic ulcer and upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms that may impact treatment compliance. This prespecified secondary analysis of the OBERON study (NCT00441727) determined the efficacy of esomeprazole for prevention/resolution of low-dose ASA-associated upper GI symptoms. A post hoc analysis of predictors of symptom prevention/resolution was also conducted. Helicobacter pylori-negative patients taking low-dose ASA (75-325 mg) for cardiovascular protection who had ≥1 upper GI risk factor were eligible. The patients were randomized to once-daily esomeprazole 40 mg, 20 mg, or placebo, for 26 weeks; 2303 patients (mean age 67.6 years; 36% aged >70 years) were evaluable for upper GI symptoms. The proportion of patients with dyspeptic or reflux symptoms (self-reported Reflux Disease Questionnaire) was significantly lower (P < 0.0001) in those treated with esomeprazole versus in those treated with placebo. Treatment with esomeprazole (P < 0.0001), age >70 years (P < 0.01), and the absence of upper GI symptoms at baseline (P < 0.0001) were all factors associated with prevention/resolution of upper GI symptoms. Together, these analyses demonstrate that esomeprazole is effective in preventing and resolving patient-reported upper GI symptoms in low-dose ASA users at increased GI risk.

Changes in Gastric Pathology after H. pylori Treatment in Community-Driven Research Aimed at Gastric Cancer Prevention.

Community-driven projects have characterized Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in Indigenous communities in the Northwest Territories (NT) and Yukon (YT), Canada. These projects address concerns about the frequent diagnosis of Hp infection among community members and its relation to gastric cancer deaths, perceived to occur with alarming frequency in this region. Projects included breath-test screening for Hp infection, gastroscopy with gastric biopsies, and treatment to eliminate Hp infection. Previous project results showed a high prevalence of stomach pathologies associated with increased cancer risk among Hp-positive participants at baseline. This analysis describes changes in precancerous gastric pathologies in project participants who had gastroscopy before baseline treatment during 2008-2013 and again in 2017. Throughout the study period, the same pathologist graded Hp density, active gastritis, chronic gastritis, atrophic gastritis, and intestinal metaplasia using the updated Sydney System. Of 310 participants from three communities with baseline pathology data, 69 had follow-up pathology data. Relative to baseline, the prevalence of Hp infection and precancerous gastric pathology was substantially lower at follow-up; most participants who were Hp-positive at baseline and Hp-negative at follow-up had reduced severity of active, chronic, and/or atrophic gastritis at follow-up. Though follow-up numbers are small, these results yield evidence that successful Hp treatment has the potential to reduce the risk of gastric cancer in Arctic Indigenous communities.

Patient-Centered Access to IBD Care: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Canada has the highest global age-adjusted incidence and prevalence rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Due to IBD patient volumes and limited resources, challenges to timely access to specialty care have emerged. To address this gap, the aim of this paper was to understand the experiences and perspectives of persons living with IBD with a focus on accessing health care. Methods: Using a qualitative descriptive approach, patients diagnosed with IBD (≥18 years of age) were purposively sampled from rural and urban gastroenterology clinics and communities across Canada. Co-facilitated by a researcher and patient research partner, 14 focus groups were recorded, transcribed, and coded for themes. Thematic analysis was used to ascertain the congruence or discordance of IBD specialty care access experiences. Results: A total of 63 individuals participated in the study. The majority of participants were female (41/63, 65%) and from urban/suburban regions (33/63, 52%), with a mean age of 48.39 (range 16-77 years). The analysis generated three main themes: (1) need for patient to be partner, (2) adapting IBD care access to individual context, and (3) patient-defined care priorities should guide access to IBD care. Conclusions: The complexity of specialty care access for IBD patients cannot be underestimated. It is vital to possess a robust understanding of healthcare system structures, processes, and the impact of these factors on accessing care. Using a patient-centered exploration of barriers and facilitators, IBD specialty care access in Canada can be better understood and improved on provincial and national levels.

Gastroscopy for dyspepsia: Understanding primary care and gastroenterologist mental models of practice: A cognitive task analysis approach.

Background: Gastroscopy to investigate dyspepsia without alarm symptoms rarely results in clinically actionable findings or sustained health-related quality-of-life improvements among patients aged 18-60 years and is, therefore, not recommended. Despite this, referrals for and performance of gastroscopy among this patient population remain high. The purpose of this study was to understand family physicians' and gastroenterologists' mental models of dyspepsia and the drivers behind referring or performing gastroscopy. Methods: Cognitive task analysis routine critical decision method interviews with family physicians (n = 8) and gastroenterologists (n = 4). Results: Family physicians and gastroenterologists hold rich mental models of dyspepsia that rely on sensemaking; however, gaps in information continuity affect their ability to plan and coordinate patient care. Drivers behind decisions to refer or perform gastroscopy were: eliminating risk for serious pathology, providing reassurance, perceived preference by patients to receive information and reassurance from gastroenterologists, maintaining relationships with patients, and saving costs to the health system. Conclusions: Family physicians refer for dyspepsia when they are seeking support from gastroenterologists, they believe that alternative factors may be impacting the patient's health or view it as a cost-saving measure. Likewise, gastroenterologists perform gastroscopy for dyspepsia when they perceive it as a cost-saving measure, they want to support their primary care colleagues and provide their colleagues and patients with reassurance. An improved degree of communication between speciality and primary care could allow for continuity in the transfer of information about patients and reduce referrals for dyspepsia.

Awareness of postpolypectomy surveillance guidelines: a nationwide survey of colonoscopists in Canada.

INTRODUCTION: Due to the increasing demand for colonoscopy, adherence to postpolypectomy surveillance guidelines is important. Suboptimal compliance can lead to unnecessary risks and ineffective use of resources. OBJECTIVE: To determine the awareness of and adherence to postpolypectomy surveillance guidelines among members of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG). METHODS: A survey describing 14 clinical cases was mailed to all physician members (n=411) of the CAG. Respondents were required to recommend a surveillance interval and a reason for his or her choice. RESULTS: A total of 150 colonoscopists (37%) completed the survey. Adherence to the guidelines varied from 23% to 96% per clinical scenario (median 63%). Recommended surveillance intervals were too short in 0% to 60% of the different cases (median 8%). The recommended interval was most often (60%) too short for a patient with one tubular adenoma with high-grade dysplasia. Surveillance intervals were too long in 4% to 75% of the cases (median 9%). The recommended interval was most often too long in a patient with a villous adenoma 15 mm in size and removed piecemeal (75%). Most often, recommendations were reported to be based on guidelines (median 74%; range 31% to 94%). However, in nine of 14 cases, more than 10% (median 18%; range 12% to 38%) of the respondents stated that their recommendation was based on guidelines, but did not provide the appropriate surveillance interval. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance to colonoscopy surveillance guidelines is suboptimal and reflects both overuse and underuse. The results show that awareness about the content of guidelines needs to be raised and strategies implemented to increase adherence.

Do Low-Risk Patients With Dyspepsia Need a Gastroscopy? Use of Gastroscopy for Otherwise Healthy Patients With Dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) recommends not to perform gastroscopy for dyspepsia in otherwise healthy adults less than 55 years of age (2014). The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of gastroscopy in a young, healthy population with uncomplicated dyspepsia. METHODS: A retrospective review of gastroscopies completed during 3-month periods in 2015, 2016, and 2017 identified all patients undergoing gastroscopy for the primary indication of dyspepsia. Low-risk patients for dyspepsia were defined as adults, aged 18 to 54 years without alarm symptoms, comorbidities and/or abnormal imaging findings or laboratory values. Gastroscopy and pathology reports were reviewed to identify clinically actionable findings. Clinical outcomes were followed to December 31, 2018 including gastroenterology referrals, emergency room visitation and hospitalization. RESULTS: Among 1358 patients having a gastroscopy for dyspepsia, 480 (35%) were low-risk patients. Sixteen patients 3.3% (16/480) had a clinically actionable result found on gastroscopy or biopsy. No malignant lesions were detected. Low-risk patients were followed up for an average of 2.75 years, 8% (39/480) visited the emergency department (ED), 1% (3/480) of patients were admitted to hospital and 12% (59/480) of patients were re-referred for a dyspepsia-related concern. INTERPRETATION: A high rate of low yield, high cost, invasive endoscopic investigations were performed in this population of otherwise healthy patients under age 55 years. These data suggest limited uptake of current recommendations against the routine use of gastroscopy to investigate dyspepsia.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Severe or Fulminant Clostridioides difficile Infection: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Severe or fulminant Clostridioides difficile infection (SFCDI) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Emerging evidence suggests fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) may be a promising therapy for SFCDI. AIM: This systematic review determines the safety and efficacy of FMT in medically refractory SFCDI. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was conducted using PubMed (1965 to 2020), Web of Science (1900 to 20), EMBASE (1974 to 2020), and Cochrane Review (1945 to 2020). Quality appraisal by NIH Study Quality Assessment tools, and data extraction were performed by two teams of independent researchers. The primary outcome was resolution of SFCDI 4 weeks after the final FMT. Pooled resolution rates were calculated using generalized linear mixed models estimates. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty patients from 10 studies (8 case series, 1 case-control and 1 randomized study) were included with 209 individual patient-level data. FMT resulted in resolution of SFCDI within 4 weeks in 211/240 individuals for a pooled estimate of 88% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83 to 0.91). The mean number of FMT required was 1.6 for severe and 2.0 for fulminant CDI resolution. The pooled proportional estimates for patients requiring CDI-directed antimicrobials after FMT was 50% (95% CI: 0.06 to 0.94) for severe CDI and 67.0% (95% CI: 0.30 to 0.91) for fulminant CDI. Serious adverse event rates were low. CONCLUSION: FMT appears effective in treating SFCDI patients with low adverse events, but requires multiple treatments with a significant proportion of patients requiring additional anti-CDI antibiotics to achieve resolution. The optimal route of FMT delivery remains unknown. The presence of pseudomembranous colitis may guide additional FMT or anti-CDI antibiotic treatment.

Declining Corticosteroid Use for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Across Alberta: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background and Aims: Corticosteroid-free remission is a primary treatment goal in IBD which may be achieved with greater use of anti-TNF therapy. We defined temporal trends of corticosteroid use, anti-TNF use, hospitalization and surgery in a prevalent IBD cohort within the province of Alberta, Canada. Methods: Health administrative data were used to identify medication dispensing, hospitalizations and surgery in individuals with IBD from 2010 to 2015. Temporal trends were calculated using log-binomial regression for medications and log-linear models for hospitalizations and surgery rates. Analyses were stratified based on geographic location. Results: Of 28890 individuals with IBD, 50.3% had Crohn's disease. One in six individuals (15.45%) were dispensed a corticosteroid. Corticosteroid use decreased in both metropolitan areas (AAPC -20.08%, 95% CI: -21.78 to -18.04) and non-metropolitan areas (AAPC -18.14%, 95% CI: -20.78 to -18.04) with a similar pattern for corticosteroid dependence. Corticosteroid dependence was more prevalent in UC vs. CD (P < 0.05), and in the pediatric IBD cohort (13.45) compared to the adult (8.89) and elderly (7.54) cohorts (per 100 prevalent population, P < 0.001). The proportion of individuals dispensed an anti-TNF increased over the study period (AAPC 12.58%, 95% CI: 11.56 to 13.61). Significantly more non-metropolitan versus metropolitan residing individuals were hospitalized for any reason, for an IBD-related, or IBD-specific indication (all P < 0.001) though the proportion requiring IBD surgery was similar between groups. Conclusions: An increase in anti-TNF use corresponded to a decline in corticosteroid use and dependence in those with IBD. Inequities in IBD care still exist based on location and age.

A randomized controlled trial of four precolonoscopy bowel cleansing regimens.

BACKGROUND: The ideal bowel cleansing regimen for colonoscopy has yet to be determined. OBJECTIVE: To compare the cleansing efficacy, and patient tolerability and safety of four bowel preparation regimens. METHODS: A total of 834 patients undergoing outpatient colonoscopy were randomly assigned to one of four regimens: 4 L polyethylene glycol (PEG); 2 L PEG + 20 mg bisacodyl; 90 mL of sodium phosphate (NaP); or two sachets of a commercially available bowel cleansing solution (PSMC) + 300 mL of magnesium citrate (M). The primary outcome measure was cleansing efficacy, which was scored by blinded endoscopists using the Ottawa Bowel Preparation Scale. Secondary outcome measures were bowel preparation quality according to time of colonoscopy, and patient tolerability and safety. RESULTS: The mean total cleansing score was significantly worse in the NaP group compared with the other three groups (P<0.0001). The mean cleansing scores were worse in patients who underwent morning versus afternoon colonoscopy, a finding that was consistent in all four groups. PSMC + M was the best tolerated regimen. No clinically significant mean changes in creatinine or electrolyte levels were identified, although a significantly higher proportion of patients in the NaP group developed hypokelemia (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: 2 L PEG + 20 mg bisacodyl, or PSMC + M was as efficacious as 4 L PEG and superior to NaP for bowel cleansing. A short interval between the completion of bowel preparation and the start of colonoscopy (ie, 'runway time'), irrespective of bowel preparation regimen, appeared to be a more important predictor of bowel cleanliness than the cathartic agents used.

Delayed Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Alberta: A Framework for Analyzing Barriers to Diagnosis and Generating Evidence to Support Health System Changes Aimed at Reducing Time to Diagnosis.

The frequency of colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis has decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health system planning is needed to address the backlog of undiagnosed patients. We developed a framework for analyzing barriers to diagnosis and estimating patient volumes under different system relaunch scenarios. This retrospective study included CRC cases from the Alberta Cancer Registry for the pre-pandemic (1 January 2016-4 March 2020) and intra-pandemic (5 March 2020-1 July 2020) periods. The data on all the diagnostic milestones in the year prior to a CRC diagnosis were obtained from administrative health data. The CRC diagnostic pathways were identified, and diagnostic intervals were measured. CRC diagnoses made during hospitalization were used as a proxy for severe disease at presentation. A modified Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate the adjusted relative risk (adjRR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI) for the effect of the pandemic on the risk of hospital-based diagnoses. During the study period, 8254 Albertans were diagnosed with CRC. During the pandemic, diagnosis through asymptomatic screening decreased by 6·5%. The adjRR for hospital-based diagnoses intra-COVID-19 vs. pre-COVID-19 was 1.24 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.49). Colonoscopies were identified as the main bottleneck for CRC diagnoses. To clear the backlog before progression is expected, high-risk subgroups should be targeted to double the colonoscopy yield for CRC diagnosis, along with the need for a 140% increase in monthly colonoscopy volumes for a period of 3 months. Given the substantial health system changes required, it is unlikely that a surge in CRC cases will be diagnosed over the coming months. Administrators in Alberta are using these findings to reduce wait times for CRC diagnoses and monitor progression.

Canadian Digestive Health Foundation Public Impact Series: gastroesophageal reflux disease in Canada: incidence, prevalence, and direct and indirect economic impact.

The Canadian Digestive Health Foundation initiated a scientific program to assess the incidence, prevalence, mortality and economic impact of digestive disorders across Canada. The current article presents the updated findings from the study concerning gastroesophageal reflux disease - a condition that develops when the reflux of stomach contents causes troublesome symptoms and/or complications (Montreal definition).

A prospective audit of patient experiences in colonoscopy using the Global Rating Scale: a cohort of 1,187 patients.

BACKGROUND: The Global Rating Scale (GRS) comprehensively evaluates the quality of an endoscopy department, providing a patient-centred framework for service improvement. OBJECTIVE: To assess patient experiences during colonoscopy and identify areas that need service improvement using the GRS. METHODS: Consecutive outpatients undergoing colonoscopy were asked to complete a pre- and postprocedure questionnaire. Questions were based on GRS items and a literature review. The preprocedure questionnaire addressed items such as patient characteristics and information provision. The postprocedure questionnaire contained questions regarding comfort, sedation, the attitude of endoscopy staff and aftercare. RESULTS: The preprocedure questionnaire was completed by 1,187 patients, whereas the postprocedure part of the questionnaire was completed by 851 patients (71.9%). Fifty-four per cent of patients were first seen in the outpatient clinic. The indication for colonoscopy was explained to 85% of the patients. Sixty-five per cent of the patients stated that information about the risks of colonoscopy was provided. Sedation was used in 94% of the patients; however, 23% judged the colonoscopy to be more uncomfortable than expected. Ten per cent of patients rated the colonoscopy as (very) uncomfortable. Preliminary results of the colonoscopy were discussed with 87% of patients after the procedure. Twenty-one per cent of the patients left the hospital without knowing how to obtain their final results. Being comfortable while waiting for the procedure (OR 9.93) and a less uncomfortable procedure than expected (OR 2.99) were important determinants of the willingness to return for colonoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provided evidence supporting the GRS in identifying service gaps in the quality of patient experiences for colonoscopy in a North American setting. Assessing experiences is useful in identifying areas that need improvement such as the provision of pre- and postprocedure information.

The Impact of Transitioning From Guaiac-Fecal Occult Blood Testing to Fecal Immunochemical Testing in a Canadian Colon Cancer Screening Program.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of transitioning from guaiac-based fecal occult blood testing (gFOBT) to fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) on the detection rate of adenomas, advanced adenomas (AA) and colorectal cancer (CRC). BACKGROUND: Recently, the health region in Edmonton, Alberta switched from gFOBT to FIT for CRC screening. STUDY: A retrospective analysis of all patients, aged 50 to 74 years, referred for colonoscopy from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014 due to a positive gFOBT (at least one of three samples positively using the guaiac-based Hemoccult II SENSA in 2013) or FIT (≥75 µg/g of stool, using the Polymedco OC FIT-CHEK in 2014). The primary outcomes were the number of colon cancers, AA and adenomas detected in 2013 and 2014. A comparison between the two tests was also made for the composite outcome of detection of either AA or CRC. RESULTS: Six hundred and forty-nine patients underwent colonoscopy due to a positive gFOBT in 2013, and 2167 patients for a positive FIT in 2014. FIT compared with gFOBT detected more CRC (67 compared with 34), AA (770 compared with 147) and adenomas (1575 versus 320). By multivariable regression analysis adjusted for different demographics and endoscopic metrics, positive FIT was independently associated with higher adenoma detection rate (odds ratio [OR] 2.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.13 to 3.21, P < 0.001), AA detection rate (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.33, P < 0.001), and the composite outcome of AA and CRC (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.60 to 2.59, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Adoption of FIT compared with gFOBT led to higher detection of colon cancer, AA and adenomas.