Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33258037›Full record

ArticleSurgical endoscopy2021

Gastrointestinal endoscopy experience of surgical trainees throughout rural Africa.

Robert K Parker, Michael M Mwachiro, Hillary M Topazian, Richard Davis, Albert F Nyanga, Zachary O'Connor, Stephen L Burgert, Mark D Topazian

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Surgical endoscopy, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 19% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Upper GI Endoscopy in Resource-Constrained Settings: Bridging the Gap.JGH open : an open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Losartan modifies mesh integration after abdominal wall repair: an experimental study.Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery · 2022
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Gastrointestinal endoscopy capacity in Eastern Africa.Endoscopy international open · 2021
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 7 institutions in 4 countries.

Robert K ParkerDepartment of Surgery, Tenwek Hospital, PO Box 39, Bomet, 20400, Kenya. robert_k_parker@brown.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-4794-5821
Michael M MwachiroDepartment of Surgery, Tenwek Hospital, PO Box 39, Bomet, 20400, Kenya.
Hillary M TopazianDepartment of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Richard DavisDepartment of Surgery, AIC Kijabe Hospital, Kijabe, Kenya.
Albert F NyangaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Mbingo Baptist Hospital, Bamenda, Cameroon.
Zachary O'ConnorDepartment of Surgery, Bongolo Hospital, Lebamba, Gabon.
Stephen L BurgertDepartment of Endoscopy, Tenwek Hospital, Bomet, Kenya.
Mark D TopazianDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Tenwek Hospital · KEBrown University · USCameroon Baptist Convention Health Services · CMKijabe Hospital · KEMayo Clinic in Arizona · USOmar Bongo University · GAUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) is not routinely accessible in many parts of rural Africa. As surgical training expands and technology progresses, the capacity to deliver endoscopic care to patients improves. We aimed to describe the current burden of gastrointestinal (GI) disease undergoing GIE by examining the experience of surgical training related to GIE.

methodsA retrospective review was conducted on GIE procedures performed by trainees with complete case logs during 5-year general surgery training at Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) sites. Cases were classified according to diagnosis and/or indication, anatomic location, intervention, adverse events, and outcomes. Comparisons were performed by institutional location and case volumes. Analysis was performed for trainee self-reported autonomy by post-graduate year and case volume experience.

resultsTwenty trainees performed a total of 2181 endoscopic procedures. More upper endoscopies (N = 1,853) were performed than lower endoscopies (N = 325). Of all procedures, 546 (26.7%) involved a cancer or mass, 267 (12.2%) involved a report of blood loss, and 452 (20.7%) reported pain as a component of the diagnosis. Interventions beyond biopsy were reported in 555 (25%) procedures. Esophageal indications predominated the upper endoscopies, particularly esophageal cancer. Trainees in high-volume centers and in East Africa performed more interventional endoscopy and procedures focused on esophageal cancer. Procedure logs documented adverse events in 39 cases (1.8% of all procedures), including 16 patients (0.8%) who died within 30 days of the procedure. Self-reported autonomy improved with both increased endoscopy experience and post-graduate year.

conclusionsGIE is an appropriate component of general surgery residency training in Africa, and adequate training can be provided, particularly in upper GI endoscopy, and includes a wide variety of endoscopic therapeutic interventions.

Indexed as

Internship and ResidencySurgeonsAfricaClinical CompetenceEndoscopyEndoscopy, GastrointestinalHumansRetrospective StudiesGastrointestinal diseasesGlobal healthHealth care deliveryHealthcare workforceHealth servicesMedical educationOperative/statistics and numerical dataSurgical procedures

Identifiers

PMID33258037
OpenAlexW3108747790

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.