Do breaks in gastroenterology fellow endoscopy training result in a decrement in competency in colonoscopy?

Background: Skills decay without practice, but the degree is task specific. Some experts believe that it is essential to teach endoscopy longitudinally to build and maintain endoscopic skills.

Objective: To determine whether breaks in gastroenterology fellow endoscopy training are associated with a decrement in competency in independent intubation of the cecum.

Acute coronary syndrome and cardiac arrest: using simulation to assess resident performance and program outcomes.

Background: Simulation training has emerged as an effective method of educating residents in cardiac emergencies. Few studies have used emergency simulation scenarios as an outcome measure to identify training deficiencies within residency programs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate postgraduate year-1 (PGY-1) residents on their ability to manage an acute coronary syndrome and cardiac arrest scenario before and after internship in order to provide outcome data to improve program performance.

Is MRCP equivalent to ERCP for diagnosing biliary obstruction in orthotopic liver transplant recipients? A meta-analysis.

Background: Biliary complications are the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality in orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) is considered the diagnostic criterion standard for post-orthotopic liver transplantation biliary obstruction, but incurs significant risks.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of MRCP for biliary obstruction in OLT patients.

Radiation doses to ERCP patients are significantly lower with experienced endoscopists.

Background: Patients undergoing ERCP receive nontrivial doses of radiation, which may increase their risk of developing cancer, especially young patients. Radiation doses to patients during ERCP correlate closely with fluoroscopy time.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether endoscopist experience is associated with fluoroscopy time.

Assessing intern core competencies with an objective structured clinical examination.

Background: Residents are evaluated using Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies. An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a potential evaluation tool to measure these competencies and provide outcome data.

Objective: Create an OSCE to evaluate and demonstrate improvement in intern core competencies of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice before and after internship.