Improving colonoscopy quality in the national VA healthcare system

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention is a Veterans Affairs (VA) priority. Colonoscopy quality, especially adenoma detection rate (ADR), is critical for effective screening. Our research indicates considerable variation in ADR among VA providers. Even a slight increase in ADR can reduce fatal CRC rates, and audit and feedback strategies have improved ADR in other settings. A recent report identified deficiencies in VA colonoscopy quality, highlighting the need for standardized documentation and reporting. To address this, we developed the VA Endoscopy Quality Improvement Program (VA-EQuIP), which aims to improve colonoscopy quality through benchmarking and collaborative learning, aligning with VA's modernization priorities and HSR&D and QUERI goals of accelerating evidence-based implementation. Methods: We will conduct a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial to evaluate whether VA-EQuIP improves provider ADR compared to usual care, the implementation of VA-EQuIP, site-level factors associated with colonoscopy quality improvement, and components of provider behavior change. Using mixed methods our study will measure outcomes like reach, implementation, adoption, maintenance of VA-EQuIP, and provider behavior change. The analysis will include primary and secondary outcomes, such as overall and screening ADR, cecal intubation rate, and bowel preparation quality, using mixed effects generalized linear models and interrupted time-series analyses. Adoption and implementation will be evaluated through usage statistics, surveys, and qualitative interviews to identify factors influencing success. Discussion: This study will assess the impact of VA-EQuIP on colonoscopy quality metrics and factors associated with effective implementation. VA-EQuIP infrastructure allows for national-scale implementation and evaluation of quality reporting with minimal manual labor, guiding future quality improvement efforts to ensure optimal patient care.