A systematic review of cancer waiting time audits
Lewis R, Collins R, Flynn A, Emmans Dean M, Myers L, Wilson P, Eastwood A
Record ID 32005000156
English
Authors' objectives:
The aim of this report was to assess the implementation and effectiveness of the two-week waiting time policy for cancer referrals and to inform a review of the cancer referral guidelines by NICE.
Authors' results and conclusions:
241 clinical audits meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. 193 clinical audits were classified as criterion based (i.e. where clinical practice is compared to explicit predefined criteria), 36 as non-criterion based (i.e. where practice was not compared to predefined criteria), and 12 as research studies. The majority of included studies were poorly reported. Fewer than half (44%) provided sufficient detail on the methods used for the audit to be reproducible.
Under the two-week wait system, there was wide variation in the proportion of site specific cancer referrals that were seen within two weeks, in the proportion of referrals that were found to be in accordance with the symptoms listed in the guidelines, and in the proportion of two-week wait referrals deemed by consultants to warrant an urgent appointment. Less than 20% of included audits provided details outlining any recommended changes to service delivery or how any changes would be implemented. Fewer than 20% of included audits provided details of any plans to re-audit.
Authors' recommendations:
Poor reporting can seriously compromise the integrity of the audit process. Audit reports should be written up in sufficient detail to allow the reader to ascertain how the audit was conducted and to assess the validity of the results and how these will be used to improve existing practices and procedures. The methods by which clinical audits of site specific cancers are conducted and reported should be standardised across the NHS.
Authors' methods:
Systematic review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/CRD_Reports/crdreport27.pdf
Year Published:
2005
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
England
MeSH Terms
- Medical Audit
- Neoplasms
- Referral and Consultation
- Waiting Lists
Contact
Organisation Name:
University of York
Contact Address:
University of York, York, Y01 5DD, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 1904 321040, Fax: +44 1904 321041,
Contact Name:
crd@york.ac.uk
Contact Email:
crd@york.ac.uk
Copyright:
Centre for Reviews and Dissemination
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.