Table 1

Characteristics of the randomised participants at baseline

SMC groupSMC+LP group
nn
Demographic characteristics
 Mean age (SD)14.5 (1.6)4914.7 (1.4)51
 Female, n (%)38 (78)4938 (75)51
 Median months from onset of illness to baseline assessment (25th percentile, 75th percentile)12 (7.0, 22.0)4912 (8.0, 18.0)49
Clinical characteristics
 Mean SF-36 physical function score* (SD)56.0 (21.5)4953.0 (18.8)50
 Mean Chalder Fatigue score† (SD)25.1 (4.2)4925.0 (4.2)50
 Mean pain VAS† (SD)42.4 (29.4)4851.6 (28.5)48
 Mean SCAS† (SD)40.3 (20.1)4829.8 (16.9)49
 Mean HADS anxiety score† (SD)10.4 (4.4)488.8 (4.5)51
 Mean HADS depression score† (SD)8.1 (4.4)487.5 (3.1)50
 Mean EQ-5D score* (SD)0.34 (0.36)490.31 (0.34)51
School attendance in the previous week, n (%)
 None7 (14%)496 (12%)50
 0.5 day7 (14%)495 (10%)50
 1 day3 (6%)493 (6%)50
 2 days8 (16%)498 (16%)50
 3 days12 (24%)4912 (24%)50
 4 days9 (18%)4912 (24%)50
 5 days3 (6%)494 (8%)50
  • All results rounded to 1 decimal point or whole percentage points.

  • *Higher score=fewer symptoms, better function.

  • †Higher score=more symptoms, poorer function.

  • HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; LP, Lightning Process; SCAS, Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale; SF-36, 36-item Short-Form health survey; SMC, specialist medical care; VAS, visual analogue scale.