Hellenic Foundation of Gastroenterology and Nutrition

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Hellenic Foundation of Gastroenterology and
Nutrition

• 30-32 P. Ioakim
• 10675 Athens
• Tel/Fax [phone]
• Email info_at_eligast.gr
• www.eligast.gr

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Governing Board

• President D. Papapanayiotou
• Director C. Arvanitakis
• Secretary General D. Karamanolis
• Treasurer H. Tzathas
• Councilors A. Bourdaras
• V. Golematis
• G. Kitis
• S. Ladas
• A. Papaspyrou
• G. Papatheodoridis
• E. Tsianos

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Aims of the Hellenic Foundation of
Gastroenterology and Nutrition

• To promote research in gastrointestinal disease
• To inform the public on the prevention and early
  diagnosis of GI disease
• To inform the public on healthy diet and proper
  nutrition
• Organization of meetings, seminars and other
  educational activities
• Publication of pamphlets for distribution to the
  public
• Award of scholarships to young physicians and
  scientists
• International collaboration with other
  foundations and health organizations

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Profile

• Founded in 2002 to promote education, research
  and awareness on gastrointestinal disease,
  nutrition and general healthy living
• Currently lists 4.000 lay members, 550
  gastroenterologists, 1.100 physicians of
  different specialties and 200 dietologists and
  nutritionists
• Committees
• Research
• Nutrition and Food Sciences
• Education
• Publications
• International relations
• Chapters Thessaloniki, Iraklion (Crete), Larisa
  (Thessaly), Rhodes, Ioannina, Chios, Korinthos,
  Preveza, Pyrgos, Tripoli
• Publication of journal Well - Being and
  Nutrition

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Well Being and Nutrition
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Educational activities

• Annual 2-day Postgraduate Course for
  gastroenterologists and physicians of other
  specialties. Attendance 600 participants
• Seminars organized by Chapters for physicians and
  lay public
• Site for electronic version of 40 journals
  (GE, Hepatology, Endoscopy, Surgery,
  Nutrition, Obesity, Cochrane Library)
• Participation in Nutrition Day, October 16

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Pamphlets for the public

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
• Viral hepatitis
• Hepatitis B treatment
• Hepatitis C treatment
• Diverticular disease of the colon
• Constipation
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• GI Endoscopy
• Celiac disease
• Obesity
• Food safety at home
• Colorectal cancer

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Colorectal Cancer
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Colorectal cancer

• Public awareness
• Campaign for prevention and early diagnosis
• High risk groups
• Effect of diet predisposing and protective
  factors
• Genetic factors
• Surveillance strategies
• Screening - Coloscopy

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Targeted high risk groups for colorectal cancer
screening (in decreasing order of risk)

• Amsterdam II criteria
• CRC in multiple relatives and early age of onset
• Identifying families with Lynch syndrome
• Bethesda guidelines
• Select persons from further testing for Lynch
  syndrome
• Family history of CRC
• One or two first degree relatives with CRC

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Screening of population of average risk for CRC
(FOBT / Coloscopy)

• Determining factors of screening
• Attitude of person to be screened
• Attitude of persons family
• Health system Insurance coverage
• Educational level
• Socioeconomic level
• Doctor involved in the persons care
• Publicity by celebrities
• Society at large
• Health organizations

Ladabaum, Gut 2007561648 Gram et al, Arch
Intern Med 20031631601 Janz et al, Prev Med
200337627
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Screening for CRC Project in Greece

• Collaboration of Hellenic Foundation of
  Gastroenterology and Nutrition with Hellenic
  Society of Gastroenterology
• Distribution of pamphlets on CRC
• Seminars for the public
• Educational TV programs and spots
• Articles in magazines and newspapers
• Dissemination of information by Hospitals /
  Clinics, Physicians, Health organizations

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Protocol of screening for CRC (I)

• Identify index cases with CRC
• Include first degree relatives per index case
  over 30
• Contact persons to be screened
• Interview Consent for coloscopy
• Coloscopy recording of findings
• Lesions analyzed for number, location, size,
  morphology, histology and staging in case of
  cancer

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Protocol of screening for CRC (II)

• Determine screening compliance (number of
  relatives who accepted screening / total number
  of relatives x 100)
• Determine screening adherence to coloscopy
  (number of relatives who accepted coloscopy /
  number of relatives interviewed x 100)

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Adherence to coloscopy of first degree relatives
of patient with CRC

• Adherence rate is generally low
• Lieberman. Gastroenterology 19951091781
• Adherence rate 44 (USA)
• Bujanda et al. Gut 2007561714
• Adherence rate 38 (Spain)
• Carlos et al. J Amer Coll Surg 2005200216
• Adherence rate 52 (USA)
• Yusoff et al. Med J Australia 2002176151
• Adherence rate 47 (Australia)

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How to enhance adherence rate for screening of
high risk CRC groups

• Researchers
• Better understanding of CRC screening
• New technologies role of CT colography
• Physicians
• To educate patients and public
• Medical and health organizations
• To promote public awareness (Association,
  Societies, Foundations, Task force / MTCC)
• Government
• Health provider, funding
• Insurance companies
• Goal
• Inform the public
• Motivate high risk groups
• Make coloscopy accessible

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Life is a magical thing. Laurel Clark, MD, ?a?.
Wisconsin, ???