Colorectal cancer diagnosis: Pitfalls and opportunities

Table 3 Main factors associated with practitioner delay

Increases delay	Reduces delay
Lack of continuity of care Frequent attendance Patient’s socioeconomic status (lower) Initial misdiagnosis Failure to examine or investigate Inaccurate or inadequate tests Co-morbidities Elderly patients Psychiatric co-morbidities	Site (rectum) Experience Use of referral guidelines Suspected CRC diagnosis in the referral Urgent referral to hospital

CRC: Colorectal cancer.