The varying role of the GP in the pathway between colonoscopy and surgery for colorectal cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT: To describe general practitioner (GP) involvement in the treatment referral pathway for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. A retrospective cohort analysis of linked data. A population-based sample of CRC patients diagnosed from August 2004 to December 2007 in New South Wales, Australia, using the 45 and Up Study, cancer registry diagnosis records, inpatient hospital records and Medicare claims records. 407 CRC patients who had a colonoscopy followed by surgery. Patterns of GP consultations between colonoscopy and surgery (ie, between diagnosis and treatment). We investigated whether consulting a GP presurgery was associated with time to surgery, postsurgical GP consultations or rectal cancer cases having surgery in a centre with radiotherapy facilities. Of the 407 patients, 43% (n=175) had

SUBMITTER: Goldsbury D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3612745 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature