Table 1 Characteristics of patients in the two randomised arms and excluded from the study at baseline (n = 69)
| Â | Fast Track (FI) (n = 26) | Standard Practice (SI) (n = 26) | Excluded from study (n = 17) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gender | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Male | 9 | 35% | 7 | 27% | 4 | 24% |
Female | 17 | 65% | 19 | 73% | 13 | 76% |
Age | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Mean | 52.9 | -- | 53.0 | -- | 53.7 | -- |
   Median | 53.0 | -- | 51.5 | -- | 53.0 | -- |
   SD | 10.5 | -- | 10.4 | -- | 12.2 | -- |
Ethnic Group (grouped) | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
White (UK, Irish, European) | 23 | 88% | 24 | 92% | 13 | 93% |
Any other group | 3 | 12% | 2 | 8% | 1 | 7% |
Not known | Â | Â | Â | Â | 3 | Â |
Type of MS | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Primary Progressive MS | 13 | 50% | 10 | 38% | 5 | 33% |
Secondary Progressive MS | 12 | 46% | 14 | 54% | 7 | 47% |
Other (inc Relapsing Remitting and Devics) | 1 | 4% | 2 | 8% | 3 | 20% |
Not known | Â | Â | Â | Â | 2 | Â |
Education: continue after min school leaving age? | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Yes | 11 | 42% | 14 | 54% | -- | -- |
No | 15 | 58% | 12 | 46% | -- | -- |
Education: degree or equivalent qualification? | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Yes | 9 | 35% | 6 | 23% | -- | -- |
No | 17 | 65% | 20 | 77% | -- | -- |
Employment status | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Retired | 6 | 23% | 5 | 19% | -- | -- |
In employment or self-employed (PT/FT) | 0 | 0% | 1 | 4% | -- | -- |
Unable to work (due to illness) | 20 | 77% | 20 | 77% | -- | -- |
Did the patient ever work in health or social services? | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Yes | 4 | 15% | 6 | 23% | -- | -- |
No | 22 | 85% | 20 | 77% | -- | -- |
Informal carer | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
No informal carer | 6 | 23% | 3 | 12% | 3 | 23% |
Partner (wife/husband) | 14 | 54% | 15 | 58% | 7 | 54% |
Offspring (daughter/son) | 4 | 15% | 3 | 12% | 1 | 8% |
Sibling (sister/brother) | 1 | 4% | 2 | 8% | 0 | 0% |
Parents | 1 | 4% | 3 | 12% | 1 | 8% |
All others | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 8% |
Next of Kin | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
No next of kin | 0 | 0% | 1 | 4% | 0 | 0% |
Wife/partner | 8 | 31% | 3 | 12% | 3 | 23% |
Husband/partner | 7 | 27% | 12 | 46% | 4 | 31% |
Daughter | 1 | 4% | 3 | 12% | 1 | 8% |
Son | 6 | 23% | 0 | 0% | 2 | 15% |
Brother | 1 | 4% | 1 | 4% | 0 | 0% |
Sister | 0 | 0% | 1 | 4% | 1 | 8% |
Parents | 3 | 12% | 5 | 19% | 1 | 8% |
Any other carer | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 8% |
Not known | Â | Â | Â | Â | 4 | Â |
Type of Carer Contact | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Lives alone | 5 | 19% | 4 | 15% | 3 | 25% |
Lives with carer | 20 | 77% | 21 | 81% | 9 | 75% |
Other carer contact | 1 | 4% | 1 | 4% | 0 | 0% |
Not known | Â | Â | Â | Â | 5 | Â |
FUNCTION AND SYMPTOM SCALES AT BASELINE | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
UNDS TOTAL | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Mean, (Median) | 28.2 | (27.5) | 29.5 | (28.5) | -- | -- |
   SD | 8.9 | -- | 9.2 | -- | -- | -- |
   N completed | 26 |  | 26 |  |  |  |
EDSS score | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Mean | 7.7 | (8.0) | 7.9 | (8.0) | -- | -- |
   SD | 1.0 | -- | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
   N completed | 25 |  | 26 |  |  |  |
MSIS Physical score | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Mean | 67.7 | (69.0) | 67.0 | (70.0) | -- | -- |
   SD | 18.6 | -- | 10.9 | -- | -- | -- |
   N completed – all items | 18 |  | 12 |  |  |  |
MSIS Psychological score | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Mean | 20.8 | (21.0) | 24.6 | (25.0) | -- | -- |
   SD | 7.5 | -- | 10.7 | -- | -- | -- |
   N completed – all items | 21 |  | 17 |  |  |  |
Core POS total | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Mean | 14.2 | (14.0) | 13.3 | (14.0) | -- | -- |
   SD | 3.5 | -- | 4.2 | -- | -- | -- |
   N completed – all items | 18 |  | 15 |  |  |  |
POS MSS total score | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Mean | 18.7 | (16.0) | 18.4 | (18.0) | -- | -- |
   SD | 9.4 | -- | 10.7 | -- | -- | -- |
   N completed – all items | 23 |  | 21 |  |  |  |
Zarit Burden Inventory total | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Mean | 20.5 | (19.0) | 22.5 | (23.0) | -- | -- |
   SD | 10.7 | -- | 6.5 | -- | -- | -- |
   N completed – all items | 13 |  | 17 |  |  |  |