Referral pathways in colorectal cancer: an audit of surgeons's records.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To explore the referral pathways of patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer to surgeons. METHOD: Australian surgeons from three states completed a questionnaire and their records were audited. RESULTS: Thirty-three surgeons provided data on 530 patients seen in the preceding 12 months. The median time between colonoscopy and first surgical consult was 10 days, with 19% of patients waiting more than 28 days. After adjustment for clustering, no surgeon factors were associated with the number of days between colonoscopy and surgery. A report back to the general practitioner (GP) was found in 78% of patients' records. This feedback varied between surgeons but none of the specific surgeon characteristics examined could explain this. CONCLUSION: Surgeons usually communicated with GP regardless of whether they were the referral source. However, communication with GP varied considerably among surgeons, with no evidence of a report to the GP in one-fifth of cases.