Baseline predictors and comparison of intervention and control groups.
| Characteristic | Intervention (n = 313) | Control (n = 316) |
|---|---|---|
| Age in years, n (%) | ||
| <40 | 48 (15.3) | 51 (16.1) |
| 40–59 | 130 (41.5) | 130 (41.1) |
| ≥60 | 135 (43.1) | 135 (42.7) |
| Female, n (%) | 219 (70.0) | 220 (69.6) |
| Ethnicity: white, n (%) | 298 (95.2) | 299 (94.6) |
| Lives alone, n (%) | 82 (26.2) | 93 (29.4) |
| Highest educational qualification,a n (%) | ||
| None or up to GCSE/O level | 123 (39.4) | 102 (32.4) |
| A-level, vocational, or professional | 138 (44.2) | 160 (50.8) |
| Degree | 51 (16.4) | 53 (16.8) |
| Accommodation: owner-occupied, n (%) | 214 (68.4) | 214 (67.7) |
| Self-reported main chronic condition, n (%) | ||
| Musculoskeletal | 106 (33.9) | 107 (33.9) |
| Diabetes | 35 (11.2) | 37 (11.7) |
| Heart disease | 16 (5.1) | 18 (5.7) |
| Other | 156 (49.8) | 154 (48.7) |
| Medically unexplained symptoms (defined as: back pain, myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome), n (%) | 59 (18.9) | 70 (22.2) |
| Years spent living with the condition,a n (%) | ||
| <5 | 82 (26.9) | 90 (29.0) |
| 5–9 | 68 (22.3) | 71 (22.9) |
| ≥10 | 155 (50.8) | 149 (48.1) |
| Life satisfaction (satisfaction with work, finances, leisure, friendships, accommodation, living arrangements, family relationships, and personal safety), mean (SD) | 4.6 (0.9) | 4.7 (0.9) |
| Self-care activities (number of self-reported activities out of: diet, exercise, complementary approaches, relaxation, and information seeking), mean (SD) | 11.0 (2.4) | 11.2 (2.4) |
| Self-reported general health, n (%) | ||
| Fair/poor | 191 (61.0) | 190 (60.1) |
| Good/very good/excellent | 122 (39.0) | 126 (39.9) |
| Self-reported baseline health characteristics, mean (SD) | ||
| Self-efficacy | 45.9 (21.5) | 47.7 (22.3) |
| Energy | 32.6 (19.5) | 33.3 (20.1) |
| Health-related quality of life | 47.1 (33.5) | 47.5 (33.1) |
| Healthcare use | 8.6 (7.3) | 9.1 (8.1) |
| Preference for course (measured on 7-point scale from ‘Start the course now’ to ‘Wait 6 months’), mean (SD) | 3.2 (1.8) | 3.4 (1.8) |
↵a Cells do not sum to total sample due to missing values.