title: Guideline for referral of patients with suspected colorectal cancer by family physicians and other primary care providers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this guideline is to assist FPs and other primary care providers with recognizing features that should raise their suspicions about the presence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in their patients.
  Committee members were selected from among the regional primary care leads from the Cancer Care Ontario Provincial Primary Care and Cancer Network, the members of the Ontario Colorectal Cancer Screening Advisory Committee, and the members of the Cancer Care Ontario Gastrointestinal Cancer Disease Site Group.
  
  
  METHODS
  This guideline was developed through systematic review of the evidence base, synthesis of the evidence, and formal external review involving Canadian stakeholders to validate the relevance of recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evidence-based guidelines were developed to improve the management of patients presenting with clinical features of CRC within the Canadian context.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The judicious balancing of suspicion of CRC and level of risk of CRC should encourage timely referral by FPs and primary care providers. This guideline might also inform indications for referral to CRC diagnostic assessment programs.
authors.affiliation: Physician with the Sunnybrook Academic Family Health Team in Toronto, Ont, and is Regional Primary Care Cancer Lead for the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network. ccopgi@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: M Elisabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Del Giudice
authors.affiliation: Health Research Methodologist in the Department of Oncology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont, and for Cancer Care Ontario's Program in Evidence-based Care. ccopgi@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Emily T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.affiliation: Regional Primary Care Lead at the Northeast Cancer Centre in Sudbury, Ont.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hey
authors.affiliation: Surgical oncologist at the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simunovic
authors.affiliation: Surgeon at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre in Ontario.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University and Past Provincial Primary Care Lead at Cancer Care Ontario.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levitt
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000209:etiology; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000453:epidemiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012007:Rectum; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015431:Weight Loss