J Christopher1, T R Flint2, H Ahmed3, N Dhir3, R Li3, K Macfarland4, Dzs Ng5, Jmk Ng6, C O'Neill7, A Te Water Naudé8, K Sloan9, N R Hall9, M P Powar9. 1. Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, Bedford, UK. 2. Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn NHS Trust, King's Lynn, Norfolk, UK. 3. University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK. 4. University College London Hospitals, London, UK. 5. Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, UK. 6. Royal Free Hospital, London, UK. 7. Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK. 8. John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. 9. Colorectal Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The 2015 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines widened the referral criteria for the two-week-wait pathway for suspected lower gastrointestinal cancer. We implemented a straight-to-test protocol to accommodate the anticipated increase in referrals. We evaluated the impact of these changes for relevant pathway metrics and clinical outcomes using a retrospective cohort study with historic controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed data from all patients referred to a teaching hospital via the two-week-wait pathway for suspected lower gastrointestinal cancer under the previous guidelines between 1 March and 31 August 2015 compared with the same period in 2016, when the updated guidelines and straight-to-test protocol had been implemented. RESULTS: In the 2015 cohort, there were 64 cancer diagnoses from 664 referrals (9.6% pick-up) compared with 58 cancer diagnoses from 954 referrals in the 2016 cohort (6.1% pick-up). Our straight-to-test protocol reduced the median time to cancer diagnosis by 12.5 days (P < 0.001) and reduced the median time to cancer treatment by 7.5 days (P < 0.05) An increased proportion of non-colorectal cancers were diagnosed in 2016 compared with 2015, (37.9% vs 17.2%, P < 0.05) and more adenomas were removed in 2016 compared with 2015 (377 vs 193). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our straight-to-test protocol has resulted in a reduction in times to cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment, despite an increase in the number of referrals. The new referral criteria have considerable resource implications, but their implementation did not result in an increase in the total number of cancers diagnosed.
INTRODUCTION: The 2015 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines widened the referral criteria for the two-week-wait pathway for suspected lower gastrointestinal cancer. We implemented a straight-to-test protocol to accommodate the anticipated increase in referrals. We evaluated the impact of these changes for relevant pathway metrics and clinical outcomes using a retrospective cohort study with historic controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed data from all patients referred to a teaching hospital via the two-week-wait pathway for suspected lower gastrointestinal cancer under the previous guidelines between 1 March and 31 August 2015 compared with the same period in 2016, when the updated guidelines and straight-to-test protocol had been implemented. RESULTS: In the 2015 cohort, there were 64 cancer diagnoses from 664 referrals (9.6% pick-up) compared with 58 cancer diagnoses from 954 referrals in the 2016 cohort (6.1% pick-up). Our straight-to-test protocol reduced the median time to cancer diagnosis by 12.5 days (P < 0.001) and reduced the median time to cancer treatment by 7.5 days (P < 0.05) An increased proportion of non-colorectal cancers were diagnosed in 2016 compared with 2015, (37.9% vs 17.2%, P < 0.05) and more adenomas were removed in 2016 compared with 2015 (377 vs 193). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our straight-to-test protocol has resulted in a reduction in times to cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment, despite an increase in the number of referrals. The new referral criteria have considerable resource implications, but their implementation did not result in an increase in the total number of cancers diagnosed.
Entities:
Keywords:
Colonoscopy; Diagnosis; Gastrointestinal neoplasms; Neoplasms; Surgery
Authors: Andrew D Beggs; Ravinda D Bhate; Shashi Irukulla; Mayen Achiek; A Muti Abulafi Journal: Ann R Coll Surg Engl Date: 2010-11-12 Impact factor: 1.891
Authors: John M Inadomi; Sandeep Vijan; Nancy K Janz; Angela Fagerlin; Jennifer P Thomas; Yunghui V Lin; Roxana Muñoz; Chim Lau; Ma Somsouk; Najwa El-Nachef; Rodney A Hayward Journal: Arch Intern Med Date: 2012-04-09
Authors: Petra Jellema; Daniëlle A W M van der Windt; David J Bruinvels; Christian D Mallen; Stijn J B van Weyenberg; Chris J Mulder; Henrica C W de Vet Journal: BMJ Date: 2010-03-31