Table 3 Main outcome measures of the study and data completion by study arm and interview

Number of items

Nature of questions

Impact of symptoms on day to day life in last 2 weeks graded 1 (no problem) to 5 (worst problem)

Effect of the problem in the last 3 days graded 0 (no problem) to 4 (overwhelming effect)

Effect of symptom in the last 3 days graded 0 (no problem) to 4 (overwhelming effect)

Study arm

Fast track

Standard

Fast track

Standard

Fast track

Standard

Interview 1 (baseline)

Questionnaires returned/Initial patients entered in study arm (%)

25/26 (96%)

24/26 (92%)

25/26 (96%)

21/26 (81%)

26/26 (100%)

24/26 (92%)

Reasons for non completion

Patient too disabled to self-report*

-

1

-

1

-

1

Questionnaire missed at interview **

1

1

1

4

-

1

N questionnaires with every item completed +

18

12

18

15

23

21

Interview 2 (4–6 weeks)

Questionnaires returned/Initial patients entered in study arm (%)

23/26 (88%)

21/26 (81%)

22/26 (85%)

21/26 (81%)

24/26 (92%)

22/26 (85%)

Reasons for non completion

Patient died

-

1

-

1

-

1

Patient withdrawn from study

-

1

-

1

-

1

Interview missed ***

1

1

1

1

1

1

Patient too disabled to self report*

-

1

-

1

-

1

Questionnaire missed in interview **

2

1

3

1

1

-

N questionnaires with every item completed +

19

11

17

20

21

18

Interview 3 (10–12 weeks)

Questionnaires returned/Initial patients entered in study arm (%)

26/26 (100%)

23/26 (88%)

26/26 (100%)

22/26 (85%)

26/26 (100%)

23/26 (88%)

Reasons for non completion

Patient died

-

1

-

1

-

1

Patient withdrawn from study

-

1

-

1

-

1

Patient too disabled to self-report*

-

1

-

1

-

1

Questionnaire missed in interview **

-

-

-

1

-

-

N questionnaires with every item completed +

26

19

26

19

24

19