Gastrointestinal endoscopy nurse assistance during colonoscopy and polyp detection: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis of randomized control trials

BACKGROUND: Previous studies showed difference results about the effect of nurse in improvement of the colonoscopy detection rate. This meta-analysis aims to investigate whether nurse participation during colonoscopy can help in improving the detection rate of polyps and adenomas. METHODS: Original studies in English were searched from the MEDLINE database, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library database. Randomized control trials (RCT) comparing colonoscopy with and without nurse participation for the detection of colorectal polyps and adenomas were identified. A meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.3 software. RESULTS: A total of 2268 patients from 4 RCTs were included in this meta-analysis. Outcomes of colonoscopy with nurse participation were compared with those of colonoscopy without nurse participation. The results showed that nurses’ participation during colonoscopy could significantly increase both, polyp detection rate and adenoma detection rate. CONCLUSION: Nurse assistance during colonoscopy can help improve the rate of detection of polyps and adenomas.