Canadian credentialing guidelines for flexible sigmoidoscopy.

1Division of Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia; 2Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Departments of Medicine and Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA; 3Division of Gastroenterology, University of Western Ontario, London; 4St Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto; 5Division of Gastroenterology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario; 6Division of Gastroenterology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec Correspondence: Dr David Armstrong, Division of Gastroenterology, Health Sciences Centre 2F55, McMaster University Medical Centre, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5. Telephone 905-521-2100 ext 76404, fax 905-523-6048, e-mail [email protected] Received for publication September 6, 2007. Accepted September 7, 2007 Aseries of credentialing guidelines for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures has been developed by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) Endoscopy Committee. The guidelines were reviewed and approved by the Clinical Affairs Committee, and endorsed by the Executive Board. In the present article, the CAG suggests specific guidelines for credentialing flexible sigmoidoscopy. It is intended to be read in conjunction with the introductory article that outlines the principles of credentialing (1). The CAG does not credential individuals for endoscopic procedures; that is the responsibility of the endoscopist’s local institution or facility. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide a framework that will allow organizations to assess the training and competence of applicants to perform colonoscopy, as part of the credentialing process for the granting of privileges. Flexible sigmoidoscopy allows direct visualization of the colonic mucosa, from the rectum to the proximal sigmoid and descending colon. Although colonoscopy has become a preferred method for colon cancer screening, it may not always be available, and flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years has been endorsed as an acceptable screening option (2-5).