The appropriateness of colonoscopies at a teaching hospital: magnitude, associated factors, and comparison of EPAGE and EPAGE-II criteria.

Background The growing demand for colonoscopies and inappropriate colonoscopies have become a significant problem for health care. Objectives To assess the appropriateness of colonoscopies and to analyze the association with some clinical and organizational factors. To compare the results of the European Panel of Appropriateness of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (EPAGE) and the EPAGE-II criteria. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Endoscopy unit of a teaching hospital in Spain. Patients Patients referred for colonoscopy, excluding urgent, therapeutic indications, and poor cleansing. Main Outcome Measurements Appropriateness of colonoscopies according to the EPAGE criteria. Results From 749 c…