Associations between general practice characteristics with use of urgent referrals for suspected cancer and endoscopies: a cross-sectional ecological study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Large variation in measures of diagnostic activity has been described previously between English general practices, but related predictors remain understudied.

Objective

To examine associations between general practice population and characteristics, with the use of urgent referrals for suspected cancer, and use of endoscopy.

Methods

Cross-sectional observational study of English general practices. We examined practice-level use (/1000 patients/year) of urgent referrals for suspected cancer, gastroscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. We used mixed-effects Poisson regression to examine associations with the sociodemographic profile of practice populations and other practice attributes, including the average age, sex and country of qualification of

SUBMITTER: Mendonca SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6781939 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature