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. 2008 Jul;22(7):621-6.
doi: 10.1155/2008/703284.

Wait time for endoscopic evaluation at a Canadian tertiary care centre: comparison with Canadian Association of Gastroenterology targets

Derek Yu  1 , Wilma M Hopman, William G Paterson
Affiliations

Wait time for endoscopic evaluation at a Canadian tertiary care centre: comparison with Canadian Association of Gastroenterology targets

Derek Yu et al. Can J Gastroenterol. 2008 Jul.

Abstract
in English, French

Background: In recent years, there has been considerable concern regarding wait times for Canadian health care, which led the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) to develop specific wait time targets.

Objectives: To quantify wait times for endoscopic procedures at a tertiary care centre and correlate these with clinical presentation, impact on quality of life (QOL) and final diagnosis; and to determine how well the CAG wait time targets are being met.

Methods: Patients completed a 12-item questionnaire regarding wait times and their impact on QOL. A blind review was performed of the endoscopic results, with a specific focus on correlating wait time with a final diagnosis of serious and treatable diseases.

Results: The average total wait time for the 417 participants in the present study was 229 days; 78.6% did not meet CAG wait time targets. The wait time for screening colonoscopy was longer, and the proportion of patients meeting wait time targets was significantly smaller, than for patients referred with iron deficiency anemia or a positive fecal occult blood test result. The 41 patients deemed to have a high-impact diagnosis established by endoscopy had a median wait time of 115 days, and only 23.5% met wait time targets. Overall, 38.4% of patients believed that their wait was too long, 13.9% missed school or work in the preceding month because of gastrointestinal symptoms and 23% reported being very worried about having a serious disease.

Conclusions: The majority of patients waiting for endoscopy did not meet CAG wait time targets, with the screening colonoscopy group faring the worst. Many of these patients await a definitive diagnosis of serious diseases that negatively impact QOL.

HISTORIQUE :: Ces dernières années, on s’est beaucoup inquiété des temps d’attente pour obtenir des soins au Canada, ce qui a incité l’Association canadienne de gastroentérologie (ACG) à établir des cibles de temps d’attente précises.

OBJECTIFS :: Quantifier les temps d’attente pour obtenir une endoscopie dans un centre de soins tertiaires et corréler ces résultats avec la présentation clinique, les répercussions sur la qualité de vie (QDV) et le diagnostic définitif, et déterminer à quel point les cibles de temps d’attente de l’ACG sont respectées.

MÉTHODOLOGIE :: Les patients ont rempli un questionnaire de 12 questions au sujet des temps d’attente et de leurs répercussions sur la QDV. Les auteurs ont procédé à une analyse en aveugle des résultats endoscopiques afin de corréler les temps d’attente avec le diagnostic définitif de maladie grave et traitable.

RÉSULTATS :: En moyenne, le temps d’attente total des 417 participants à la présente étude était de 229 jours, dont 78,6 % ne respectaient pas les cibles de temps d’attente de l’ACG. Le temps d’attente pour obtenir des coloscopies de dépistage était plus long, et la proportion de patients respectant les cibles de temps d’attente était beaucoup plus faible que pour ceux qui étaient aiguillés en raison d’une anémie ferriprive ou d’une recherche positive de sang occulte dans les selles. Les 41 patients réputés avoir un diagnostic à fort impact établi par endoscopie avaient eu un temps d’attente médian de 115 jours, et seulement 23,5 % respectaient les cibles de temps d’attente. Dans l’ensemble, 38,4 % des patients trouvaient avoir attendu trop longtemps, 13,9 % ont dû s’absenter de l’école ou du travail dans les mois précédents en raison de symptômes gastro-intestinaux et 23 % ont déclaré beaucoup s’inquiéter de souffrir d’une maladie grave.

CONCLUSIONS :: La majorité des patients en attente d’une endoscopie n’avaient pas profité des cibles de temps d’attente de l’ACG, le groupe ayant subi une coloscopie de dépistage attendant beaucoup plus longtemps. Bon nombre de ces patients attendent un diagnostic définitif de maladie grave, ce qui a des répercussions négatives sur leur QDV.

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Figures

Figure 1)
Figure 1)
Median (black bars) and mean (white bars) wait times of patients with documented referrals. Mean wait times include 95% CIs. The positive fecal occult blood test (FOBT)/anemia group had the shortest wait times, while screening colonoscopy patients had the longest wait times (P<0.001)
Figure 2)
Figure 2)
Quality of life assessment in the total population waiting for endoscopic procedures. *Missed at least one day of work or school in the preceding month because of gastrointestinal symptoms; †Scored 5 or more on the seven-point Likert scale. A significant proportion of patients waiting for an endoscopic procedure reported a high degree of worry related to their gastrointestinal condition, or that their gastrointestinal symptoms were adversely affecting their quality of life. ADL Activities of daily living
Figure 3)
Figure 3)
The Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) target wait times not met in the present study are indicated by black bars, while the CAG target wait times met are indicated by white bars. The majority of patients waiting for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures did not meet CAG wait time targets, with the screening colonoscopy group faring the worst. FOBT Fecal occult blood test
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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