Characteristics of responders to the survey
| Variable | N (%) |
|---|---|
| Age (years) | |
| <30 | 1 (0.4) |
| 30–40 | 45 (16.8) |
| 41–50 | 147 (54.9) |
| 51–55 | 48 (17.9) |
| 56–60 | 17 (6.3) |
| 61–65 | 8 (3.0) |
| >65 | 2 (0.7) |
| Professional title | |
| Gastroenterology consultant | 201 (75.0) |
| Surgical consultant | 27 (10.1) |
| Nurse specialist endoscopist | 25 (9.3) |
| Consultant physician (non-gastroenterology) | 4 (1.5) |
| Consultant paediatric Gastroenterologist | 1 (0.4) |
| GP endoscopist | 1 (0.4) |
| Associate specialist | 9 (3.4) |
| Hospital type | |
| District general hospital* | 155 (57.8) |
| Teaching hospital* | 94 (35.1) |
| District general hospital and teaching hospital* | 17 (6.3) |
| Community hospital only | 1 (0.4) |
| Private healthcare only | 1 (0.4) |
| Career colonoscopies | |
| 400–999 | 15 (5.6) |
| 1000–1999 | 42 (15.7) |
| 2000–2999 | 52 (19.4) |
| 3000–3999 | 45 (16.8) |
| 4000–4999 | 32 (11.9) |
| 5000–9999 | 65 (22.3) |
| ≥10000 | 17 (6.3) |
| Colonoscopies per week | |
| 1–4 | 26 (9.7) |
| 5–9 | 100 (37.3) |
| 10–14 | 81 (30.2) |
| 15–19 | 27 (10.1) |
| 20–24 | 20 (7.5) |
| >24 | 14 (5.2) |
| No. of EMRs last year | |
| 0 | 38 (14.2) |
| 1–3 | 11 (4.1) |
| 4–10 | 51 (19.0) |
| 11–20 | 65 (26.5) |
| 21–50 | 71 (26.5) |
| >50 | 32 (11.9) |
Consultant gastroenterologists were the predominant group and only a few were sub-consultant grade endoscopists. Most responders are primarily based in district general hospitals, which is important in establishing complex polypectomy provision across the whole country. The lifetime number of colonoscopies shows responders are predominantly experienced operators.
*This includes colonoscopists also practising in a community hospital and private healthcare settings.
EMR, endoscopic mucosal resection.