Impact of the 2-Week Wait Initiative for Lung Cancer Referrals
Author Information
Author(s): Lewis N R, Le Jeune I, Baldwin D R
Primary Institution: Department of Respiratory Medicine, David Evans Centre, Nottingham City Hospital
Hypothesis
The study aims to examine the impact of the 2-week wait initiative on the urgent referral pathway for lung cancer.
Conclusion
The 2-week wait scheme has not reduced waiting times for lung cancer referrals, partly due to continued use of other urgent referral routes and an increase in overall referrals.
Supporting Evidence
- Only 57% of patients were referred via the 2-week wait scheme in the first year.
- The proportion of urgent referrals seen within 2 weeks fell from 84% to 71% after the introduction of the scheme.
- The absolute number of referrals rose while the proportion having cancer fell from 78% to 46%.
Takeaway
Doctors are supposed to refer lung cancer patients quickly, but many still use other methods, which makes waiting longer for some patients.
Methodology
Medical records of all patients referred with suspected lung cancer were reviewed for the year prior to the introduction of the 2-week wait and for the subsequent 24 months.
Potential Biases
There may be a tendency to refer patients outside the 2-week wait system, which could disadvantage them.
Limitations
The study may not account for all factors influencing referral patterns and waiting times.
Participant Demographics
The median age of participants was 73 years, with 60.2% being male.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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