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Endoscopy 2016; 48(10): 884-891
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-110398
Original article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy – Establishing the key unanswered research questions within gastrointestinal endoscopy

Colin J. Rees
1   Department of Gastroenterology, South Tyneside District Hospital, South Shields, United Kingdom
,
Wee Sing Ngu
1   Department of Gastroenterology, South Tyneside District Hospital, South Shields, United Kingdom
,
Jaroslaw Regula
2   Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Oncology, Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education and the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
,
Raf Bisschops
3   Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
,
Adrian Saftoiu
4   Research Centre of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
,
Evelien Dekker
5   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Ian Gralnek
6   Institute of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Ha’Emek Medical Centre, Afula, Israel
,
Mihai Ciocirlan
7   Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Clinic, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
,
Mario Dinis-Ribeiro
8   Department of Gastroenterology, Instituto Portugues de Oncologia, Porto, Portugal
,
Rodrigo Jover
9   Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital General Universitario, Alicante, Spain
,
Søren Meisner
10   Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Herlev, Copenhagen, Denmark
,
Cristiano Spada
11   Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
,
Cesare Hassan
12   Gastroenterology Unit, Nuovo Regina Margherita Hospital, Rome, Italy
,
Roland Valori
13   Department of Gastroenterology, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucester, United Kingdom
,
Tomas Hucl
14   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
,
Olivier Le Moine
15   Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatopancreatology and Digestive Oncology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
,
Dirk Domagk
16   Department of Medicine, Josephs-Hospital Warendorf, Academic Teaching Hospital, University of Münster, Warendorf, Germany
,
Michal F. Kaminski
2   Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Oncology, Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education and the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
17   Department of Health Management and Health Economics and KG Jebsen Center for Colorectal Cancer Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
,
Michael Bretthauer
17   Department of Health Management and Health Economics and KG Jebsen Center for Colorectal Cancer Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
,
Matthew D. Rutter
18   Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, United Kingdom
,
Lars Aabakken
19   Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
,
Thierry Ponchon
20   Department of Digestive Diseases, Hospital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France
,
Paul Fockens
5   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Peter D. Siersema
21   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Medical Center, NIjmegen, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

submitted26 February 2016

accepted after revision15 March 2016

Publication Date:
02 August 2016 (online)

Also available at
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Background and study aim: Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a rapidly evolving research field. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) plays a key role in shaping opinion and endoscopy activity throughout Europe and further afield. Establishing key unanswered questions within the field of endoscopy and prioritizing those that are important enables researchers and funders to appropriately allocate resources.

Methods: Over 2 years, the ESGE Research Committee gathered information on research priorities and refined them through a modified Delphi approach. Consultations were held with the ESGE Governing Board and Quality Improvement Committee to identify important unanswered questions. Research workshops were held at the 21st United European Gastroenterology Week. Research questions were refined by the ESGE Research Committee and Governing Board, compiled into an online survey, and distributed to all ESGE members, who were invited to rank each question by priority.

Results: The final questionnaire yielded 291 responses from over 60 countries. The three countries with the highest response rates were Spain, Italy, and United Kingdom. Most responders were from teaching hospitals (62 %) and were specialist endoscopists (51 %). Responses were analyzed with weighted rankings, resulting in prioritization of 26 key unanswered questions. The top ranked generic questions were: 1) How do we define the correct surveillance interval following endoscopic diagnosis? 2) How do we correctly utilize advanced endoscopic imaging? 3) What are the best markers of endoscopy quality?

Conclusion: Following this comprehensive process, the ESGE has identified and ranked the key unanswered questions within the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy. Researchers, funders, and journals should prioritize studies that seek to answer these important questions.

Appendix e1

 

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