Influence of direct referrals on time to diagnosis after an abnormal breast screening result

This study examined the influence of a direct referral process implemented by a population-based provincial breast screening program on the time from screening to first procedure, first procedure to diagnosis, and screening to diagnosis following an abnormal breast screening result. The direct referral process shifted the responsibility for the coordination of diagnostic follow-up procedures from the family physician to the screening program. Three cohorts of women were included: a control cohort (screened prior to the initiation of a direct referral process, n = 1347), a usual care cohort (screened after the initiation of a direct referral process but for whom permission to refer was denied by the family physician, n = 1225), and a direct referral cohort (screened after the initiation of the direct referral process and for whom permission to refer was given by the family physician, n = 1232). The direct referral cohort was subdivided into women referred to a breast health centre (BHC group) (n = 606) and women referred to a diagnostic facility (diagnostic group) (n = 626). The direct referral cohort completed all three time intervals significantly faster than the other two cohorts (P < 0.0001). The diagnostic group experienced a significantly lower time from screening to the first procedure than the other cohorts or the BHC group (P < 0.0001). However, the BHC group had a significantly lower time from first procedure to diagnosis than the other cohorts or the diagnostic group (P < 0.0001). The control and the usual care cohorts were not significantly different from each other (P = 0.6250). The direct referral process significantly reduced the time to diagnosis after an abnormal screening result.