Consecutive fecal calprotectin measurements to predict relapse in patients with ulcerative colitis receiving infliximab maintenance therapy.

Background: This study examined whether fecal calprotectin can be used in daily practice as a marker to monitor patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) receiving infliximab maintenance therapy.

Methods: This prospective multicenter study enrolled adult patients with UC in clinical remission under infliximab maintenance therapy. Fecal calprotectin levels were measured every 4 weeks.

Patient satisfaction with on-demand sedation for outpatient colonoscopy.

Background And Study Aim: To reduce the costs of colonoscopy the feasibility of unsedated procedures has been explored. The aims of our study were to assess patient satisfaction with on-demand sedation and identify factors related to painful colonoscopy.

Patients And Methods: The Norwegian Gastronet quality assurance documentation tools consist of endoscopy reports (completed on site) and a patient satisfaction questionnaire (completed by the patient on the day after colonoscopy).

Sustaining the vitality of colonoscopy quality improvement programmes over time. Experience from the Norwegian Gastronet programme.

Objective: An important challenge of any quality assurance (QA) programme is to maintain interest among participants to ensure high data quality over time. The primary aim of this study was to identify factors associated with endoscopist compliance with the Norwegian QA programme for colonoscopies (Gastronet).

Material And Methods: The Gastronet registration tools are an endoscopy report form to be filled in directly after the procedure by the endoscopist, and a satisfaction questionnaire to be filled in by the patient on the day after the examination.

The Norwegian Gastronet project: Continuous quality improvement of colonoscopy in 14 Norwegian centres.

Objective: The burden on colonoscopy capacity is considerable and expected to increase further as colorectal cancer screening programmes gain a foothold in Europe. In this situation, it is particularly important to evaluate the quality of the service given. In this article we present our first year of experience with a quality network of endoscopy centres in Norway (Gastronet).

Long-term prognosis of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis: a 15-year follow-up study of 100 Norwegian patients admitted to one unit.

Background: Most follow-up studies in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis have been for a 5-year period or less. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term mortality and causes of death among patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and to identify predictors of mortality.

Methods: One hundred patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, consecutively admitted to one medical department, were included in the study from May 1984 until December 1988.