Satisfaction of the referring physician: a quality control study focusing on EUS.

Introduction: Utilization of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is becoming more widespread. Largely in control of use of EUS, as a primary consumer of EUS, are the physicians who refer patients. This quality control study aimed to uncover remedial impediments to ideal utilization of EUS.

Methods: Two thousand patient EUS reports, all by one endoscopist, were screened. One hundred forty referring physicians were identified. One hundred of these physicians completed extensive feedback survey questionnaires.

Results: Overall satisfaction with EUS procedures was generally high. The level of satisfaction was comparable to satisfaction with gastroscopy procedures, both being significantly higher than for endoscopic retrograde cholongio-pancreatography. Sixty-nine percent of the physicians indicated their desire for more information regarding EUS, this being significantly higher among residents (vs. specialists). The open access system in current practice was seen as acceptable by less than half of physicians, both from the community and from within the hospital. Waiting time for EUS procedures and for biopsy results were rated as acceptable within the hospital, but more often as too long for outpatients.

Conclusions: Overall satisfaction with EUS procedures is high. More information should be brought to the referring physicians, in print and lectures. Improving communication and interacting with endoscopist-initiated feedback led to improved feelings of teamwork, uncovered remedial weak points in the EUS service, and was thus found to be valuable.