| Randomisation | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| GPs | All GPs, n = 63 | Group 1: immediate BTO, n = 27 | Group 2: postponement of BTO, n = 36 |
| Age, mean years (SD) | 46 (6.7) | 47.4 (4.6) | 45 (7.9) |
| Sex, n (%) | |||
| Male | 47 (74.6) | 21 (77.8) | 26 (72.2) |
| Female | 16 (25.4) | 6 (22) | 10 (27.8) |
| Experience, mean number of years (SD) | 14 (8.4) | 14.1 (6.4) | 13 (9.6) |
| Organisation of practice, n (%) | |||
| Soloists | 22 (35) | 8 (29.6) | 14 (38.9) |
| Other | 41 (65) | 19 (70.4) | 22 (61.6) |
| Practice location, n (%) | |||
| Urban | 33 (52.4) | 13 (48.1) | 20 (55.6) |
| Semi-rural | 30 (47.6) | 14 (51.9) | 16 (44.4) |
| Patients | All patients, n = 325 | Group 1: immediate BTO, n = 166 | Group 2: postponement of BTO, n = 159 |
| Age, mean years (SD) | 41.4 (15.7) | 41.2 (15) | 41.6 (16.5) |
| Sex, n (%) | |||
| Male | 93 (28.6) | 46 (27.7) | 47 (29.6) |
| Female | 232 (71.4) | 120 (72.3) | 112 (70.4) |
| Type of health insurance, n (%) | |||
| Private | 101 (31.1) | 55 (33.1) | 46 (28.9) |
| Public | 194 (59.7) | 101 (60.8) | 93 (58.5) |
| Highest level of education, n (%) | |||
| Elementary | 21 (6.5) | 10 (6.0) | 11 (6.9) |
| Secondary | 161 (49.6) | 87 (52.4) | 74 (46.6) |
| Higher | 114 (35) | 60 (35.5) | 54 (38.8) |
BTO = blood-test ordering.