Appropiateness of colonoscopy in the university hospital center of monastir. Interest and applicability of criteria established by the European panel on the appropriateness of gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Objective: 1) To assess the applicability of EPAGE criteria in there first version (EPAGE I) in clinical practice, 2) to assess colonoscopy appropriateness using EPAGE I criteria, 3) to compare colonoscopy appropriateness and findings.

Methods: Four hundred and eighty-seven consecutive diagnostic colonoscopies were included. The appropriateness of the indication of colonoscopy was appreciated using a scoring system on the basis of the EPAGE criteria in there first version (EPAGE I).

Results: Appropriateness were applied in 86,4% of the colonoscopies. Fifty-one percent were appropriate, 14% uncertain and 18% inappropriate. The difference of 17% represented the procedures indicated for hematochezia and for witch an appropriateness score can not be attributed because of lack of clinical information. The probability of finding a clinically significant lesion was significantly higher in patients aged ≥ 50 years, males, inpatients, those referred by gastroenterologists and those who had the colonoscopy for "appropriate" indication according to the EPAGE I criteria. The independent variables correlated with the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy were the age, the appropriateness of indication and the health care setting.

Conclusions: EPAGE I criteria were applicable in most patients and were correlated with significant findings. They are thereby useful to rationalize colonoscopy demand. However, they could be regularly updated.