Social Deprivation and Its Relationship with Primary Care Referrals to Secondary Care in Colorectal Patients: An Observational Study

Porter DJ, Quyn AJ, Digby J, Steele RJC and Mowat C

Department of General Surgery, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK

^*Correspondance to: Darren J Porter 

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Abstract:

Objectives: To determine the relationship between referral from primary to secondary care in colorectal patients based on social deprivation category and to examine the effect of Faecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT) on GP referrals.
Design: Observational study using data from colorectal clinic referrals examining social deprivation category and rate of referral over a two year period between 2012 and 2014. The relationship between patient age and referral rates and the use of the FIT by GPs and rates of referral across all socioeconomic categories and ages was also examined.
Participants: 8,402 patients referred from primary care to colorectal clinic were included in the initial study between 2012 and 2014 and 3250 patients were included in the post FIT analysis between January 2016 and September 2016.
Results: Referral rates for those in the most affluent social category were higher compared to those in the most socially deprived areas. Regardless of social deprivation category older patients were more likely to be referred to secondary care. Following introduction of FIT, GP referral numbers to secondary care were increased amongst all patient ages and social deprivation categories.
Conclusion: Inequalities were demonstrated in rates of referral from primary care to colorectal clinic between those patients from the most affluent and most deprived areas. After introduction of FIT, rates of referral from primary to secondary care were increased amongst all ages and social deprivation categories.

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Cite the Article:

Porter DJ, Quyn AJ, Digby J, Steele RJC, Mowat C. Social Deprivation and Its Relationship with Primary Care Referrals to Secondary Care in Colorectal Patients: An Observational Study. World J Surg Surgical Res. 2019; 2: 1123.