title: Assessment of a rapid referral pathway for suspected colorectal cancer in Madrid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the results achieved with a rapid referral pathway for suspected colorectal cancer (CRC), comparing with the standard referral pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-year audit of patients suspected of having CRC routed via a rapid referral pathway, and patients with CRC routed via the standard referral pathway of a health care district serving a population of 498,000 in Madrid (Spain). Outcomes included referral criteria met, waiting times, cancer diagnosed and stage of disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and seventy-two patients (mean age 68.8 years, SD 14.0; 51% male) were routed via the rapid referral pathway for colonoscopy. Seventy-nine per cent of referrals fulfilled the criteria for high risk of CRC. Fifty-two cancers were diagnosed: 26% Stage A (Astler-Coller), 36% Stage B, 24% Stage C and 14% Stage D. Average waiting time to colonoscopy for the rapid referral patients was 18.5 days (SD 19.1) and average waiting time to surgery was 28.6 days (SD 23.9). Colonoscopy was performed within 15 days in 65% of CRC rapid referral patients compared to 43% of standard pathway patients (P = 0.004). Overall waiting time for patients with CRC in the rapid referral pathway was 52.7 days (SD 32.9); while for those in the standard pathway, it was 71.5 days (SD 57.4) (P = 0.002). Twenty-six per cent Stage A CRC was diagnosed in the rapid referral pathway compared to 12% in the standard pathway (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rapid referral pathway reduced waiting time to colonoscopy and overall waiting time to final treatment and appears to be an effective strategy for diagnosing CRC in its early stages.
authors: Health Technology Assessment Unit (UETS), Agencia Laín Entralgo, Madrid, Spain. beatriz.valentin@salud.madrid.org
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: Valentín-López
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Ferrándiz-Santos
authors: Juan-Antonio
authors: JA
authors: Blasco-Amaro
authors: Juan-Diego
authors: JD
authors: Morillas-Sáinz
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Ruiz-López
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists