title: Guideline for referral of patients with suspected lung 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 lung cancer 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 and from among the members of the Cancer Care Ontario Lung 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 lung cancer within the Canadian context.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Earlier identification and referral of patients with lung cancer might ultimately help improve lung cancer morbidity and mortality. These guidelines might also be of value for informing the development of lung cancer diagnostic programs and for helping policy makers to ensure appropriate resources are in place.
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: Family physician in Lindsay, Ont.
authors.forename: Sheila-Mae
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Young
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: Family physician with the North York Family Health Team in Ontario.
authors.forename: Marla
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ash
authors.affiliation: Family physician in Brampton, Ont.
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor in the Department of Oncology at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Respirologist in Toronto, Ont.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Skrastins
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto and a staff radiation oncologist at Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre.
authors.forename: Yee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ung
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor in the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Toronto and Medical Director of Surgical Oncology at the Toronto East General Hospital.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zeldin
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: D001194:Asbestos; D002170:Canada; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000209:etiology; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D001194:Asbestos