Primary Care Physicians Overuse Colonoscopy

When given a range of hypothetical findings on initial colonoscopy, most physicians would recommend repeat colonoscopy earlier than is indicated by the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force guidelines.

Recent studies have shown that gastroenterologists and, particularly, general surgeons tend to use shorter intervals for postpolypectomy surveillance than is recommended, resulting in an overuse of colonoscopy (Journal Watch Gastroenterology Sep 15 2004). In open-access healthcare systems, primary care physicians might be the ones determining when patients undergo colonoscopy surveillance. Do they also use shorter-than-recommended intervals?

To address this question, investigators mailed surveys to 500 general internists and 500 family physicians (randomly selected from the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians, respectively). Physicians were asked when they would recommend repeat colonoscopy for a 55-y…

Reviewing Author

Douglas K. Rex, MD

Primary Care Physicians Overuse Colonoscopy

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Reviewing Author