Meeting the Motility Educational Requirements of the Gastroenterology Trainee in the 21st Century

Abstract

Background Gastrointestinal (GI) motility and functional disorders comprise over two-third of referrals to GI specialists yet training programs are disproportionately focused on endoscopy, inflammatory bowel disease and liver disease. Trainees at many centres receive minimal or no formal training in motility disorders and have little or no exposure to motility testing. Our purpose was to develop an educational intervention to address this learning need. Methods We designed a formal training program comprised of didactic sessions, workshops and hands-on motility sessions with live demonstrations designed to be held over the course of a weekend. Faculty for the course were experienced GI motility experts from across Canada. Resident trainees from all Canadian GI fellowship programs were invited to attend. Pre- and post-tests were administered to measure the baseline learning needs and the impact of the program. Course evaluations were completed by attendees. Results Three annual courses were offered over the past 3 years. Both adult and paediatric gastroenterology trainees attended the programs. The majority of training programs from Canada were represented. Baseline testing of attendees revealed a fundamental lack of understanding of GI motility concepts and their clinical implications. Postcourse test scores demonstrated a significant improvement in motility knowledge. Course evaluations of the content and faculty presentations received uniformly positive reviews. Conclusions There is a pervasive lack of clinical knowledge of GI motility among Canadian GI subspecialty trainees. A focused weekend intensive course is one step in addressing this learning need.

Gastroenterology Trainees’ Attitudes and Knowledge towards Patients with Disorders of Gut‐Brain Interaction

“…For centers lacking neurogastroenterology expertise, an apprenticeship‐based model can be challenging to implement for trainees and further highlights the need for expertise in these areas. However, apprenticeship‐based learning can be achieved effectively through other modalities such as the month‐long ANMS clinical training program available to US gastroenterology trainees (which is available virtually), additional training at centers of excellence 14 and case‐based workshops at larger conferences 15 . Given that discomfort can persist beyond training, continual assessment and educational initiatives are also needed at the post‐graduate level with expanded opportunities to learn from expert neurogastroenterologists such as through the American College of Gastroenterology's Functional GI Disorders School 16 and Rome Foundation compendium of online resources 17…”

The Effect of a Didactic Course on Gastroenterology Nurses' Knowledge and Interest in Anorectal Manometry

“…This formal training program is composed of didactic lectures, workshops, hands-on motility sessions, and live demonstrations. Results from this program have shown an increase in knowledge after the course with uniformly positive reviews (Lazarescu et al, 2019).…”

“…Given the limited exposure to motility training, several studies have evaluated ways to better educate GI trainees in neurogastroenterology and motility. Short didactic courses in GI motility have been shown to increase GI trainees' knowledge of motility disorders and procedures (Kim et al, 2011; Lazarescu et al, 2019). However, similar interventions have not been reported among nurses.…”

Urgent appeal for expanded initiatives in gastric motility disorders across low and middle-income countries: Illustrating the example of gastroparesis

“…Effectively managing complex conditions like gastroparesis requires specialisation and extensive training; for instance, certain residency programs in the USA and Canada that offer motility fellowships specifically designed for gastroenterologists 13 . However, such specialised training poses a formidable challenge in LMICs.…”

“…Integration of gastroparesis management into primary healthcare services represents a paradigm shift, necessitating heightened awareness among policymakers and healthcare providers. Emphasising the importance of addressing gastroenterological disorders within the broader healthcare spectrum can lead to more accessible and comprehensive patient care 11 – 13 .…”