Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography training conditions, results from a pan‐European survey: Between vision and reality
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) still has a relatively high complication rate, underscoring the importance of high-quality training. Despite existing guidelines, real-world data on training conditions remain limited. This pan-European survey aims to systematically explore the perceptions surrounding ERCP training. METHODS: A survey was distributed through the friends of United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Young Talent Group network to physicians working in a UEG member or associated states who regularly performed ERCPs. RESULTS: Of 1035 respondents from 35 countries, 649 were eligible for analysis: 228 trainees, 225 trainers, and 196 individuals who regularly performed ERCP but were neither trainees nor trainers. The mean age was 43 years, with 72.1% identifying as male, 27.6% as female, and 0.3% as non-binary. The majority (80.1%) agreed that a structured training regimen is desirable. However, only 13.7% of trainees and 28.4% of trainers reported having such a structured program in their institutions. Most respondents (79.7%) supported the concept of concentrating training in centers meeting specific quality metrics, with 64.1% suggesting a threshold of 200 annual ERCPs as a prerequisite. This threshold revealed that 36.4% of trainees pursued training in lower-volume centers performing <200 ERCPs annually. As many as 70.1% of trainees performed <50 annual ERCPs, whereas only 5.0% of trainers performed <50 ERCPs annually. A low individual trainee caseload (<50 ERCPs annually) was more common in lower-volume centers than in higher-volume centers (82.9% vs. 63.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The first pan-European survey investigating ERCP training conditions reveals strong support for structured training and the concentration of training efforts within centers meeting specific quality metrics. Furthermore, this survey exposes the low availability of structured training programs with many trainees practicing at lower-volume centers and 71% of all trainees having little hands-on exposure. These data should motivate to standardize ERCP training conditions further and ultimately improve patient care throughout Europe.
DOI: 10.1002/ueg2.12684
Authors: Karim Hamesch, Oscar Cahyadi, Stavros Dimitriadis, Marcus Hollenbach, Pilar Acedo, Myriam Ayari, Helena Dauvarte, Egle Dieninyte, Viktor Domislovic, Ana Dugic, Martin Ďuriček, Omar Elshaarawy, Anne Fennessy, Mark Enrik Geissler, Zornitsa Gorcheva, Amer Hadi, Valon Hamza, Ismar Hasukić, Henriette Heinrich, Iris J. M. Levink, Jan Kral, Lumir Kunovsky, Mattias Mandorfer, Maria Moris, Yana Nikiforova, Hassan Ouaya, Gianluca Pellino, Anthea Pisani, Odri Qejvani, Hasan Sadigov, Maciej Salaga, Orestis Sidiropoulos, Cem Simsek, Paula Sousa, Milica Stojkovic Lalosevic, Zane Straume, Katja Tepes, Andrei Voiosu, Lucas Wauters, Alberto Zanetto, Sophie Schlosser, Jonas Jaromir Staudacher
Institutions: Universitätsklinikum Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, University Hospital Coventry, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Philipps University of Marburg, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, The Royal Free Hospital, University College London, East Tallinn Central Hospital, Vilnius University, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Heidelberg University, University Hospital Heidelberg, Comenius University Bratislava, University of Liverpool, National Liver Institute, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Menoufia University, St. Vincent's University Hospital, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Medical University Pleven, Copenhagen University Hospital, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, University of Tuzla, University Clinical Center Tuzla, University Hospital of Basel, Erasmus MC, Charles University, Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Masaryk University, University Hospital Brno, University Hospital Olomouc, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Palacký University Olomouc, Medical University of Vienna, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, L.T. Malaya National Therapy Institute of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Mater Dei Hospital, Mother Teresa Hospital, Azerbaijan Medical University, Medical University of Lodz, NIMTS Hospital, Hacettepe University, Hospital São Teotónio, University of Belgrade, Univerzitetski Klinički Centar Srbije, Riga East University Hospital, Riga Stradiņš University, Rogaška Medical Centre, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Spitalul Clinic Colentina, Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, University of Padua, Azienda Ospedale - Università Padova, University Hospital Regensburg, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,930
Funder: Grifols
OpenAlex ID: W4404762559