Ensuring Successful H. Pylori Test of Cure: A Quality Improvement Initiative Focused on Post-Treatment Testing

Background Eradication of Helicobacter. Pylori (HP) infection is crucial for preventing serious sequelae, such as peptic ulcer disease and gastric malignancies. The ACG guideline recommends mandatory re-testing to ensure HP eradication. However, studies have shown that only less than 25% of patients undergo eradication testing. Objectives: The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a simple educational intervention on test of cure compliance rate. Our target population includes patients with confirmed HP infection who were treated with HP eradication therapy. Design: Quality improvement pre-post intervention Participants: Internal Medicine residents Intervention: Educational training on the importance of test of cure (TOC) after HP eradication therapy. Outcome: Proportion of patients who underwent HP TOC pre- and post-intervention. Results We found a statistically significant difference in TOC compliance rate between the two groups, increasing from 51.02% to 75.23%. with (χ² (1, N=201) = 12.08, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the effect of gender, age, race, body mass index (BMI) and smoking on TOC compliance rate. No significant relationship was found between any of the demographic factors. Conclusion This low-effort quality improvement initiative demonstrates how simple education can help providers adhere to clinical guidelines, ultimately enhancing patient care.