Table 3.

Practitioner-based factors for EP with lung or colorectal cancer

Authors	Study design	Cancer	Patient group	Comparator(s)	Associated	Not associated	Evidence
Melling et al (UK, England; 2002)28	Observational (retrospective analysis of cancer registry data, and medical records review)	Lung	41 EP patients (27% aged >75); 59% male	173 elective referrals with CXR (25% aged >75); 61% male 148 elective referrals without CXR (39% aged >75); 66% male	Pathway—no CXR (inferred)		S–
Davies et al (UK, England; 2004)20	Before and after	CRC	84 preflexible sigmoidoscopy patients (30 EP); 51% male	635 postflexible sigmoidoscopy patients (165 EP); 51% male	Pathway—use of a fast-track flexible sigmoidoscopy referral system (EP fell from 35.7% to 25.9%, p=0.059)		I
Oldale et al (UK, England; 2000)25	Cross-sectional	CRC	100 emergency admissions (50% aged ≥75); 47% male	357 elective admissions (37% aged ≥75); 59% male		Practice size (GPs); fundholding status; training status	S

CRC, colorectal cancer; CXR, chest X-ray; EP, emergency presentation; GP, general practitioner; I, insufficient; S–, strong–; S, strong.