Building Capacity for High Quality Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Alberta: Health Evidence Review

Since the development of the fiberoptic endoscope in the late 1950s, endoscopy has become an indispensable tool for gastroenterology. The demand for gastrointestinal endoscopy services in Canada has outstripped its availability, resulting in prolonged wait times, patient anxiety and reduced satisfaction, and potential adverse health effects. Capacity for more urgent indications and more appropriate use may be created by reducing suboptimal utilization of gastrointestinal endoscopy and ensuring procedures are completed within recommended time frames,.  This health evidence review aimed to identify indications which do not warrant an endoscopic procedure, evaluate current guidelines and supplement gaps/inconsistencies in current recommendations, and identify interventions to reduce overuse, in order to build capacity for the appropriate utilization of these valuable high-cost procedures.