title: Referral pathways in colorectal cancer: an audit of surgeons's records.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the referral pathways of patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer to surgeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: University of New South Wales, St Vincent' s Clinical School, Cancer Services, St Vincents and Mater Health Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: Allan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Spigelman
authors.forename: Shane W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Pascoe
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Justin J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Beilby
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Crossland
authors.forename: Rohan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gett
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Upali W
authors.initials: UW
authors.lastname: Jayasinghe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013502:General Surgery; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires