| Summary: | A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine
Johannesburg, 2016 === INTRODUCTION: Wait times for patients requiring endoscopy have not been ascertained in a South African setting. Wait times for gastroenterology services in Canadian studies were found to be prolonged, necessitating a need to evaluate wait times and the effect these wait times have on patients in a South African setting.
METHOD: A questionnaire was administered to all new patients attending the Gastroenterology clinic at an academic South African hospital between December 2014 and July 2015.
RESULTS: A total of 193 respondents completed the questionnaire. Of the respondents 78.2% were referred for an endoscopic procedure. The median total wait time from seeking initial medical attention until procedure was 100 days (IQR50-243).The median total wait time in patients with alarm features was 87 days (IQR52-155).The most frequent alarm feature reported was weight loss (20%; median total wait time of 73 days).The shortest median total wait time was 69 days (anaemia-11%); 53% felt that the wait time was appropriate for their condition. Of the respondents 42% and 41% reported a noteworthy impact on quality of life and impact on their activities of daily living, respectively. High anxiety levels due to wait times, was reported by 56% of the respondents.
CONCLUSIONS: Wait times for gastroenterology services were prolonged in
this study. When compared to the Canadian target waiting times, patients with alarm
features were generally not seen in the appropriate wait time. Further studies need to
be undertaken in order to evaluate the reasons for this. === MT2017
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