Establishing quality standards for white light upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Singapore: Consensus statements from the Gastroenterological Society of Singapore

Introduction: Oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGD) is the gold standard for evaluating upper gastrointestinal (UGI) symptoms. However, the quality of endoscopic examinations varies widely. This paper, initiated by the Gastroenterological Society of Singapore (GESS), aims to standardise best practices and enhance OGD procedure quality in Singapore. Method: A core group of 6 experienced gastroenterologists conducted a comprehensive literature review, referencing established international guidelines. They developed preliminary statements, which underwent 2 rounds of formal voting by a broader group of consultant-level gastroenterologists. Statements were reviewed, modified and re-evaluated using the Delphi process, and assigned levels of evidence and recommendation using the US Preventive Services Task Force model. The threshold for acceptance of statements was agreed to be 80% or higher. Results: Twenty consensus statements were finalised, covering pre-requisite, pre-procedure, intra-procedure and post-procedure quality indicators. Conclusion: The GESS consensus statements provide recommendations for institutions in Singapore to establish quality standards for white light UGI endoscopy, facilitating high-quality, safe and accurate endoscopic care.