Needs assessment of basic gastrointestinal endoscopy training: A qualitative study in Indonesia

Background and aim: Gastointestinal endoscopy is a complex practical skill, and training and experience are required to ensure the accuracy and safety of the procedures. Therefore, proper endoscopy training is needed to provide highly skilled endoscopists. This study explores the learning experience and assesses the need for endoscopy training in Indonesia from an endoscopy trainee's point of view. Limitations from the current training model and the trainees' suggestions hopefully will become a foundation for the future endoscopy training model in Indonesia.

Methods: A total of 132 current endoscopy trainees and graduates of endoscopy training from various centers in Indonesia completed an online qualitative survey regarding their endoscopy training experience, their satisfaction with the current training method, barriers to achieving competency, and their suggestions for future training. Data were subjected to descriptive and qualitative analysis using content analysis.

Results: We found variations in the trainee's learning experience regarding the training supervision, feedback, and assessment methods. The most common endoscopy training methods were observation and direct practice with supervision. There was only a low proportion of simulator use (25%). The most found concept in barriers to achieving competency was "insufficient number of patients." Meanwhile, the most found concept in suggestions for future training methods was "increasing the variety of cases and procedures."

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that there are still variations in endoscopy training methods in Indonesia. Therefore, we propose to design a standardized endoscopy training program to ensure the competence of endoscopy trainees and better care for endoscopic patients. Simulators might be used to increase the trainees' competence in settings with low numbers of patients or cases.