Table 1.
Patient characteristics at randomisation. Values are numbers (percentages) unless stated otherwise
| Characteristics
|
Follow up
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Nurse led (n=99)
|
Conventional (n=103)
|
|
| World Health Organization's performance status: | ||
| Normal activity without restriction | 8 (8) | 4 (4) |
| Strenuous activity restricted, can do light work | 59 (60) | 64 (62) |
| Up and about ⩾50% of waking hours, capable of self care | 32 (32) | 35 (34) |
| Diagnosis: | ||
| Non-small cell lung cancer | 74 (75) | 73 (71) |
| Limited small cell lung cancer | 8 (8) | 9 (9) |
| Extensive small cell lung cancer | 6 (6) | 12 (12) |
| Mesothelioma | 8 (8) | 6 (6) |
| Not known (no histology) | 3 (3) | 3 (3) |
| Stage: | ||
| I or II | 12 (12) | 14 (14) |
| IIIa | 14 (14) | 7 (7) |
| IIIb | 28 (28) | 36 (35) |
| IV | 19 (19) | 19 (18) |
| None (small cell) | 14 (14) | 21 (20) |
| Mesothelioma | 8 (8) | 6 (6) |
| Not known | 4 (4) | 0 |
| Comorbid disease: | ||
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 8 (8) | 9 (9) |
| Cardiac disease | 29 (29) | 16 (16) |
| Pleural effusion | 2 (2) | 4 (4) |
| Hypertension | 18 (18) | 13 (13) |
| Arthritis | 22 (22) | 26 (25) |
| Gastrointestinal disease | 28 (28) | 20 (19) |
| Other comorbid disease | 46 (47) | 47 (46) |
| Median (interquartile range) item score on EORTC's quality of life core questionnaire and lung cancer module:* | ||
| Physical functioning | 86.7 (86.7-93.3) | 86.7 (86.7-93.3) |
| Role functioning | 66.7 (33.3-100) | 66.7 (33.3-83.3) |
| Emotional functioning | 75.0 (58.3-95.8) | 79.2 (64.6-91.7) |
| Cognitive functioning | 83.3 (75.0-100) | 83.3 (79.2-100) |
| Social functioning | 83.3 (50.0-100) | 66.7 (50.0-100) |
| Global health status or quality of life | 66.7 (50.0-83.3) | 58.3 (50.0-68.8) |
| Fatigue | 33.3 (22.2-55.6) | 33.3 (22.2-47.2) |
| Pain | 16.7 (0-33.3) | 16.7 (0-33.3) |
| Appetite | 0 (0-33.3) | 0 (0-33.3) |
| Financial worries | 0 (0-25.0) | 0 (0-0) |
| Dyspnoea | 25.0 (16.7-41.7) | 25.0 (16.7-50.0) |
| Cough | 33.3 (0-33.3) | 33.3 (33.3-41.7) |
| Haemoptysis | 0 (0-0) | 0 (0-0) |
| Peripheral neuropathy | 0 (0-33.3) | 0 (0-33.3) |
| Median (interquartile range) score on patients' satisfaction questionnaire:† | ||
| Organisation of care | 68.8 (62.5-82.8) | 71.9 (65.6-81.3) |
| Information and advice | 72.9 (63.0-81.3) | 69.4 (62.5-77.1) |
| Personal experience of care | 77.3 (72.7-88.6) | 75.0 (72.7-86.4) |
| Satisfaction with care | 79.5 (63.6-99.4) | 75.0 (59.1-86.4) |
| How would you rate support overall?‡ | 90.0 (72.0-100) | 90.0 (74.8-98.3) |
EORTC=European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer.
*
EORTC's questionnaires not completed at baseline for two patients who received nurse led follow up and five patients who received conventional follow up.
†
Patient satisfaction questionnaire not completed at baseline for two patients who received nurse led follow up and seven patients who received conventional follow up.
‡
Measured with a 100 mm visual analogue scale (range 0-100); high scores represent rating of support as good.