The Distribution and Composition of Colonoscopy Providers in Australia

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is a common cause of cancer in Australia. Also, patients living in regional and rural areas are diagnosed later and have poorer outcomes compared to their metropolitan counterparts. The purpose of this study is to determine the distribution of the workforce providing colonoscopies for the Australian population. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study of the medical practitioners certified by the conjoint committee for the recognition of training in gastrointestinal endoscopy (CCRTGE) was performed. Data regarding their specialty and principal place of practice was collected. The principal place of practice was stratified with the Modified Monash Model (MMM) of rurality and the local government association’s classifications of rural and urban areas. Results: As of March 2021, there were 2698 medical practitioners listed as being recognised in the field of adult colonoscopies by the CCRTGE. Of these, 2123 were found to still have active specialist registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). In the capital city Local Government Areas (LGAs), there was an endoscopist every 0.33 km(2) to 62.05 km(2). In the rural LGAs, there was an endoscopist every 23,382 km(2) to 267,780 km(2). In metropolitan areas, the most common specialty of the endoscopist was gastroenterology whereas in regional cities and remote towns it was general surgery. In very remote towns, general practitioners provided colonoscopy services.