Systematic and random sources of variation in GP referrals for suspected cancer
| Type of variation | Source of variation | ||
| Patient/practice population | GP practice | Healthcare organisation | |
| Systematic | Age. Socioeconomic status. Environmental exposures. | Accessibility. Quality of care. | Capacity. Implementation of guidelines/pathways. Culture. |
| Random | Heterogeneity of clinical presentation. | Sampling (small number of cases). | Competing demands due to exceptional events. |
GP, general practitioner.