Experience of nurse practitioners performing colonoscopy after endoscopic training in more than 1,000 patients

Abstract

Background and study aims The demand for screening colonoscopy has continued to rise over the past two decades. As a result, the current workforce of gastroenterologists is unable to meet the needs for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Therefore, solutions are needed to improve this disparity, with non-physician endoscopists being a potential option. However, current literature on the performance of non-physicians in endoscopy is limited. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of colonoscopy performed by three gastrointestinal fellowship-trained nurse practitioners (NPs).

Methods This was a retrospective study performed at a single tertiary academic medical center. Colonoscopies performed by three gastrointestinal-specialized NPs after having completed training of at least 140 supervised colonoscopies were reviewed for analysis. Inclusion criteria were patients undergoing colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening purposes. Outcomes included colonoscopy quality indicators as defined by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy/American College of Gastroenterology Taskforce (ASGE/ACG) Taskforce.

Results The study included 1,012 subjects (mean age 56.2 years, female 51.5 %, African American 73.9 %) who underwent screening colonoscopies by three NPs. Cecal intubation was successful in 997 subjects (98.5 %). Mean adenoma detection rate was 35.6 %. Mean withdrawal time was 18.9 minutes. There were no adverse events including colonic perforations or delayed post-polypectomy bleeding.

Conclusions Three fellowship-trained NPs in colonoscopy in the United States satisfied the quality indicators proposed by the ASGE/ACG Task force, demonstrating that adequately trained NPs can perform colonoscopy safely and effectively. With the demand for colonoscopy exceeding the supply, non-physicians could be part of the solution to meet the demands for CRC screening.

Introduction

As the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women in the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant health concern [1]. In 2018, there were over 140,000 estimated new cases of CRC and over 50,000 CRC related deaths, with an overall lifetime risk of 4 % to 5 % [1]. Fortunately, CRC incidence and mortality rates have been steadily declining over the past 30 years, primarily due to increased screening rates but also in part due to advances in screening. Colonoscopy is currently considered the preferred screening test, especially for high risk individuals, with studies showing colonoscopy reduces CRC incidence by 40 % and mortality by 50 % to 60 % [2] [3] [4].

Use of colonoscopy has steadily increased over the past decade, becoming the most commonly used test for CRC screening in the United States [5] [6]. There is concern about whether there are adequate resources to meet the need for CRC screening, with several predictive models showing a shortage of gastroenterologists [6] [7] [8] [9]. In addition, with total US healthcare costs exceeding $3.5 trillion annually, there is increasing focus on providing high-value care [10] [11]. Therefore, innovative solutions are needed in gastroenterology both to drive down costs and to bridge the growing gap between supply and demand for colonoscopy. Increasingly, less invasive screening methods are being considered to address these needs. However, another proposed solution is extending endoscopic training to non-physicians, such as nurse practitioners (NPs) [12]. This approach would potentially maintain the diagnostic and therapeutic benefits of colonoscopy at a lower cost while also addressing workforce gaps. This alternative, however, is contingent on the ability of non-physicians to provide adequate and comparable quality colonoscopy to gastroenterologists.

Current literature on the performance of non-physicians in endoscopy is limited, with the majority of studies focused on non-physician performance of flexible sigmoidoscopy. There is evidence to support that non-physicians can perform flexible sigmoidoscopy safely and effectively, with comparable adenoma detection rates (ADRs), adverse events (AEs), and patient satisfaction compared to physicians [13] [14]. However, much less is known about the performance of non-physicians in colonoscopy. This lack of evidence prompted a 2009 statement by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) that “there is insufficient data to support the use of non-physician endoscopists to perform colonoscopy” [15].

The aim of our study was to assess the quality of colonoscopy performed by three fellowship-trained NPs ([Table 1]) after endoscopic training using quality indicators for colonoscopy as defined by the ASGE/American College of Gastroenterology (ASGE/ACG) Taskforce. The three NPs were selected from a pool of candidates who applied for the yearlong nurse practitioner fellowship program. All three of the selected NPs completed the fellowship and remained employed at the same tertiary medical academic center for a minimum of 3 years post-fellowship completion.

Table 1 Fellowship-trained nurse practitioner demographics.

Characteristics	N = 3
Age (yrs)
18 – 34	3
34 – 60	0
Gender
Female	3
Male	0
Highest Education
Bachelor’s degree	0
Master’s degree	2
Doctoral degree	1
Race
White	2
Asian	1

Methods

This was a single-center retrospective study analyzing consecutive screening colonoscopies performed by three NPs after completion of endoscopic training. The NPs were trained during a 1-year NP gastroenterology fellowship program, structured with the same didactic and endoscopic training as first-year medical gastroenterology fellows. Each NP completed a minimum of 140 supervised colonoscopies during training, which is equivalent to the minimum number of colonoscopies recommended by the ASGE to achieve competency [16]. The NPs then underwent a formal performance evaluation to demonstrate competency, including skills of biopsy and polypectomy, before being credentialed and privileged to perform colonoscopy independently within the institution. The first NP successfully completed her endoscopic training in 2010, the second NP in 2011, and the third NP in 2012.

The study was conducted at a large urban outpatient endoscopy center that was part of an academic medical center between September 2010 and June 2016. Inclusion criteria were all patients undergoing colonoscopy for CRC screening purposes. Exclusion criteria were patients undergoing diagnostic colonoscopy and procedures aborted due to an extremely poor bowel preparation. All patients received procedural sedation with the use of either anesthesia-administered propofol or proceduralist-administered fentanyl and midazolam.

Outcome measures included quality indicators for colonoscopy as defined by the ASGE/ACG Taskforce [17] [18]. The primary outcome was ADR. Secondary outcomes included cecal intubation rate, mean withdrawal time, and complication rates of colonic perforation and post-polypectomy bleeding.

Data collection was performed by review of electronic medical records and endoscopy procedure reports. Data were entered into a secured Excel spreadsheet, from which statistical analysis (mean, range and percentages) was calculated using Excel 2016. Institutional review board (IRB) approval was obtained prior to initiating data collection. Adenoma detection was histologically confirmed. Cecal intubation was verified by photo documentation of cecal landmarks. Withdrawal times were determined using time stamps of cecal images and retroflexion images. Incidence of complications were obtained from procedure report documentation and chart review of any post-procedure hospitalizations.

Results

A total of 1,425 colonoscopies were performed by the three NPs during the study period. Of these, 413 colonoscopies were excluded due to indications other than screening (n = 374) and procedures aborted due to poor bowel preparation (n = 39), resulting in 1,012 colonoscopies included for analysis. Patients had a mean age of 56.2 years (range 41 – 83), 51.5 % were female, and 73.9 % were African American ([Table 2]). Informed consent was obtained from all patients.

Table 2 Patient demographics.

Characteristics	N = 1,012
Age (yrs)	56.2 ± 6.7 (41 – 83)
Gender
Female	521 (51.5 %)
Male	491 (48.5 %)
Race
African American	748 (73.9 %)
White	201 (19.9 %)
Asian	24 (2.4 %)
Hispanic	19 (1.9 %)
Other	20 (2.0 %)

N = number of procedures

NP colonoscopy performance outcomes were compared to the proposed standards for colonoscopy quality indicators recommended by the ASGE/ACG Taskforce ([Table 3]). Overall, adenomatous polyps were detected in 360 procedures, equating to an overall ADR of 35.6 %, with the proposed standard being ≥ 25 %. More specifically, the ADR was 39.3 % in males and 32.1 % in females, with the proposed standard being ≥ 30 % males and ≥ 20 % in females. Cecal intubation was successful in 997 subjects (98.5 %), with the proposed standard being ≥ 95 %. Procedures where the cecum was not reached was due to excessive looping or angulation based on documentation. If colonoscopies that were aborted due to poor bowel preparation are included in analysis of cecal intubation rate, the number of colonoscopies analyzed would increase to 1,051 and would equate to a 94.9 % success rate. Mean withdrawal time was 18.9 minutes (range 5.8 – 66.7), with the proposed standard being a mean of ≥ 6 minutes. There were no complications of colonic perforation or post-polypectomy bleeding, with the proposed standard being < 1:1000 perforations for screening colonoscopies and < 1 % incidence of post-polypectomy bleeding. When analyzing NP performance separately, each individual NP also met and exceeded all of the proposed quality standards ([Table 4]).

Table 3 Overall nurse practitioner colonoscopy performance.

ASGE/ACG Quality Indicator	NP Outcomes (N = 1,012)	Proposed ASGE/ACG Standard
Adenoma detection rate
Overall	35.6 %	≥ 25 %
Male patients	39.3 %	≥ 30 %
Female patients	32.1 %	≥ 20 %
Cecal intubation rate	98.5 %	≥ 95 %
Withdrawal time	18.9 min (5.8 – 66.7)	≥ 6 min
Complications	0	Perforation < 1:1000 Post-polypectomy bleeding < 1 %

ASGE/ACG, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy/American College of Gastroenterology; NP, nurse practitioner.

N = number of procedures

Table 4 Individual nurse practitioner colonoscopy performance.

ASGE/ACG Quality Indicator	NP #1 (N = 533)	NP #2 (N = 137)	NP #3 (N = 342)	Proposed ASGE/ACG Standard
Adenoma detection rate
Overall	38.3 %	44.5 %	27.8 %	≥ 25 %
Male patients	40.9 %	45.3 %	34.0 %	≥ 30 %
Female patients	35.4 %	44.1 %	22.2 %	≥ 20 %
Cecal intubation rate	98.9 %	95.6 %	98.5 %	≥ 95 %
Withdrawal time	19.6 min (6.7 – 66.7)	32.3 min (7.9 – 57.3)	12.6 min (5.8 – 43.0)	≥ 6 min
Complications	0	0	0	Perforation < 1:1000 Post-polypectomy bleeding < 1 %

ASGE/ACG, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy/American College of Gastroenterology; NP, nurse practitioner.

N = number of procedures

Additional data regarding polyp characteristics and polypectomy technique were also examined ([Table 5]). In total, 1,471 polyps/lesions were detected. Of these, 847 (57.6 %) were benign, 611 (41.5 %) were adenomas, nine9 (0.6 %) were advanced adenomas, and four (0.3 %) were adenocarcinomas. Benign polyps included hyperplastic polyps, inflammatory polyps, and non-diagnostic pathology; adenomas included tubular adenomas and sessile serrated adenomas; and advanced adenomas included adenomas with villous features or high-grade dysplasia. The majority of polyps were small, with 1,185 (80.6 %) being 0 to 5 mm, 179 (12.2 %) being 6 to 9 mm, 83 (5.6 %) being 10 to 20 mm, and 24 (1.6 %) being > 20 mm. In total, 1,183 polyps (80.4 %) were removed via cold forceps polypectomy and 276 (18.8 %) were removed via snare polypectomy. Twelve polyps/lesions (0.8 %) were not removed, with eight polyps being referred to an advanced therapeutic endoscopist for advanced polypectomy and four polyps not removed because they appeared to be cancerous and not amenable to endoscopic resection.

Table 5 Polyp characteristics and removal technique.

Polyps/Lesions	N = 1,471
Pathology
Benign	847 (57.6 %)
Adenomas	611 (41.5 %)
Advanced adenomas	9 (0.6 %)
Adenocarcinoma	4 (0.3 %)
Size
0 – 5 mm	1185 (80.6 %)
6 – 9 mm	179 (12.2 %)
10 – 20 mm	83 (5.6 %)
> 20 mm	24 (1.6 %)
Polypectomy Technique
Biopsy	1183 (80.4 %)
Snare	276 (18.8 %)
Not removed	12 (0.8 %)

N = number of polyps/lesions

Discussion

Overall, the NPs met and exceeded all of the proposed quality ASGE/ACG Taskforce quality standards for colonoscopy, in line with the performance expected by trained physicians. As a result, this study demonstrates that adequately trained NPs can perform screening colonoscopy safely and effectively.

Use of screening colonoscopy has continued to rise over the past decade [5]. One major reason for this is increased evidence to support that colonoscopy reduces CRC incidence and mortality, leading to endorsements for screening colonoscopy by all major gastroenterology societies [19]. There has also been increased access to colonoscopy, with Medicare mandating coverage for all beneficiaries in 2001 and private insurers shortly following suit [20]. There has also been a significant rise in the demand for colonoscopy due to the increasing aging population. By 2030, the US population aged 65 and older is projected to grow by 55 %, being a large portion of individuals who will require screening [21]. Finally, there has also been an increase in patient awareness efforts, such as the 80 % by 2018 initiative by the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT), as well as celebrity involvement such as Katie Couric’s televised colonoscopy, which were found to effectively boost screening rates [22].

Increased use of colonoscopy raises the question whether there are adequate resources to meet the demand for CRC screening. One study on the projections for demand and capacity for colonoscopy published in 2009 estimated an additional 1,050 gastroenterologists would be needed by 2020 to meet the demands for colonoscopy if screening rates were to remain unchanged, increasing to an additional 1,550 gastroenterologists if screening rates were to increase by 10 % [7]. A similar study published in 2004 estimated that 1,000 additional endoscopists would be needed to meet the demand for colonoscopy if 70 % of the 2004 population were to be screened. Advocacy groups have called for even higher screening rates which would widen this gap. [6]. With the number of trained gastroenterologists having remained steady for the past 30 years and expected to remain unchanged in upcoming years, this increase in the number of gastroenterologists in practice is unlikely to occur [23]. Therefore, training NPs to perform colonoscopy could be a solution to ensure the needs for CRC screening are adequately met.

The role of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), including NPs, has expanded to address the national physician shortage in the United States. Expansion of APRN scope of practice was specifically recommended in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 to increase health care access and affordability [24]. There are several examples of successful expansion of APRN scope of practice including Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) who administer anesthesia services and Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) who specialize in ob/gyn, including the delivery of babies. A large systematic review published in 2011 that included 20 randomized controlled trials and 49 observational studies found that APRNs in collaboration with physicians could achieve outcomes and patient satisfaction that were comparable, and in some cases superior, to care by a physician alone [25].

There is precedence for NPs performing colonoscopy in the United Kingdom (UK), where the practice has already been adopted as means to meet the need for increased CRC screening [26]. By 2005, there were approximately 200 NPs performing diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy procedures, including skills of polypectomy and management of gastrointestinal bleeding [27]. Nurse endoscopists in the UK have demonstrated the ability to perform colonoscopy safely and effectively, with high patient acceptability and improved patient care [27] [28] [29] [30]. One UK study analyzing 100 colonoscopies performed by a nurse endoscopist immediately after training found the nurse endoscopist achieved a cecal intubation rate of 92 %, with no procedure-related complications and a high degree of patient satisfaction [27]. The nurse endoscopist also demonstrated competency in polypectomy skills and administration of conscious sedation. A similar subsequent study was conducted in the UK with comparable results, with findings that nurse endoscopists had similar efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction scores compared to physicians [30]. In 2005, the British Society of Gastroenterology published a position report supporting the use of nonmedical endoscopists to perform endoscopy procedures once they have completed a full training program and are able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge and competence to satisfy established standards [28]. NPs continue to be trained in colonoscopy in the UK, where they have also established strategic guidelines for training and monitoring of non-physician endoscopists [27].

Studies on nurses trained to perform colonoscopy have also been conducted in the Netherlands with results similar to the UK studies. One study at a Dutch center comparing the performance of colonoscopy by two endoscopy nurses, one gastroenterology fellow, and one experienced gastroenterologist, all completing 150 colonoscopies each, found similar cecal intubation rates, time to cecum, and AE rates between groups [31]. Patients also reported similar degrees of pain, levels of satisfaction, and willingness to undergo a future colonoscopy among groups. Additionally, a larger prospective multicenter study performed in the Netherlands analyzing 10 nurse endoscopists performance of 100 consecutive colonoscopies after training found that all of the nurses met the international quality standards with an ADR of 26.7 %, average cecal intubation rate of 94 %, AE rate of 0.2 %, and high patient satisfaction of 95 % [32].

A Canadian study also demonstrated an NP’s ability to perform colonoscopy safely and effectively. The study evaluated 225 independent colonoscopies performed by an NP after completing a 2-year training program and found the NP was as effective as gastroenterologists in performing colonoscopy based on quality measures, with a cecal intubation rate of 92 %, polyp detection rate of 39 %, and one minor adverse post-polypectomy bleeding event [33].

In the United States, a single-center, randomized controlled trial demonstrated that an NP was able to perform colonoscopy as safely and effectively as her physician colleague. The NP had an ADR of 42 %, cecal intubation rate of 100 %, mean withdrawal time of 8.5 minutes, and no procedure-related AEs [34]. Another single-center prospective study in the United States evaluating the performance of an NP’s first 300 consecutive screening colonoscopies after training found the NP satisfied all of the proposed quality indicators for colonoscopy, with an ADR of 35.0 %, cecal intubation rate of 99.0 %, mean withdrawal time of 19.3 minutes, and no procedure-related AEs [35].

The results of our study are consistent with previous studies, supporting properly trained NPs as a possible solution to filling the gap between the supply and demand for screening colonoscopies in the United States. CRC screening rates vary widely across the country, with lower screening rates and higher CRC-related deaths in rural and underserved areas [36]. NPs may be especially useful in these under-resourced settings where conventional access to a gastroenterologist is limited.

Use of NPs performing colonoscopy may also help to reduce overall health care costs. This would result from lower professional fees, reimbursement rates, and salaries compared to physicians. Using the annual salary differential for the same endoscopy case load, we calculated a per-case savings of $102. Total savings when multiplied by the number of procedures exceeded $100,000 annually. Indirect cost savings have not been calculated, however, having NPs perform colonoscopy can allow gastroenterologists additional time to perform more complex procedures that generate higher revenue. In addition, downstream revenue can be generated for other hospital departments, such as pathology, if more colonoscopies are performed due to the need for additional pathology review. A more robust direct and indirect cost-analysis would be beneficial; however, that was beyond the scope of this paper, which primarily sought to evaluate the quality of fellowship-trained NP colonoscopy when compared to physician colonoscopy.

Limitations of this study are that it focused on a small number of fellowship-trained NPs in a single center. The total number of nurse-endoscopists in the United States at present is unknown and those data are not readily available. In addition, no known complications are reported, however, we cannot rule out complications that may have occurred post-procedure discharge that were unreported by the patients. Of note, patients who underwent biopsy or polypectomy were notified of their pathology results post-procedure and none of the individuals contacted reported complications. A final limitation of this study is that it did not address how many NP colonoscopies required physician support for cecal intubation and/or polypectomy. Future studies providing subjective patient feedback about their experience with a nurse endoscopist may also be of value.

A potential barrier to expanding colonoscopy training to NPs may be a lack of physician acceptance. However, NPs performing colonoscopy may benefit physicians by allowing them to perform more therapeutic and complex cases as discussed above. They may also help to decrease patient wait times and improve overall patient satisfaction which could benefit their overall practice. A more likely scenario is adoption in underserved areas or in large health systems and accountable care organizations where value-based care plays a larger role, however, appropriate training programs would need to be in place in these institutions to support successful NP endoscopic training.

For non-physician endoscopists to effectively scale to meet the supply gaps, colonoscopy training programs with appropriate training guidelines would need to be established. In the setting of our study, three NPs were trained using the same curriculum as first-year gastroenterology fellows, suggesting that some infrastructure for training programs may already be in place. In addition, continual performance evaluation of non-physician endoscopists and guidelines for physician assistance would be needed for long-term viability of this practice

Conclusion

In conclusion, NPs present a viable option for delivering high-quality screening colonoscopy. This, in turn, may help to reduce the overall health burden of CRC in the United States.

Competing interests

Ms. Nandwani was on the Salix Pharmaceuticals Speakers Bureau.

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Publication History

Received: 28 February 2020

Accepted: 24 June 2020

Article published online:
22 September 2020