Table 3.
Study and sample characteristicsa
| Study (Samplec) Variable | Total n = 28 (n = 34)c |
Single Component n = 16 (n = 17)c |
Multi-Component n = 12 (n = 17)c |
| Source of study | |||
| Journal article | 24 (87.5) | 14 (87.5) | 10 (83.3) |
| Thesis | 4 (14.3) | 2 (12.5) | 2 (16.7) |
| Country of senior author | |||
| United States | 23 (81.2) | 13 (81.3) | 10 (83.3) |
| Europe | 4 (14.3) | 2 (12.6) | 2 (16.7) |
| Australia | 1 (3.6) | 1 (6.3) | - |
| Level of evidence | |||
| Randomized controlled trial | 10 (35.7) | 3 (18.8) | 7 (58.3) |
| Controlled trial | 2 (7.1) | 1 (6.3) | 1 (8.3) |
| Historic control | 1 (3.6) | - | 1 (8.3) |
| Pre-post | 9 (32.1) | 7 (43.8) | 2 (16.7) |
| Pre-post + single case randomization | 1 (3.6) | - | 1 (8.3) |
| Cross-sectional | 4 (14.3) | 4 (25.0) | - |
| Case series | 1 (3.6) | 1 (6.3) | - |
| ISG format | |||
| Bulletin Board | 9 (32.1) | 4 (25.0) | 5 (41.7) |
| Chatroom | 5 (17.9) | 5 (31.3) | - |
| Mailing list/newsgroup | 2 (7.1) | 1 (6.3) | 1 (8.3) |
| Instant Messaging | 2 (7.1) | 1 (6.3) | 1 (8.3) |
| Combination | 6 (25.0) | 3 (18.9) | 3 (25.0) |
| Mailing list or bulletin board | 2 (7.2) | 2 (12.5) | - |
| Unclear | 2 (7.2) | - | 2 (16.6) |
| ISG origin | |||
| Public, accessible | 9 (32.1) | 9 (56.3) | 0 (0) |
| Closed, research ISG | 17 (60.7) | 7 (43.8) | 10 (83.3) |
| Restricted access hospital | 2 (7.1) | - | 2 (16.7) |
| Moderation status | |||
| Moderated | 14 (50) | 6 (37.5) | 8 (66.7) |
| Some moderated | 1 (3.6) | 1 (56.3) | - |
| Not specified | 13 (46.4) | 9 (6.3) | 4 (33.3) |
| Type of moderation | (n = 15) | (n = 7) | (n = 8) |
| Health professional | 11 (73.3) | 5 (71.4) | 6 (75) |
| Don’t know | 4 (26.7) | 3 (28.6) | 2 (25) |
| Median duration intervention (n = 29)b | 16 wks (n = 23) |
15.5 wks (n = 10) |
17 wks (n = 13) |
|
Median longest follow-up (n = 29)b (from intervention commencement) |
22 wks (n = 22) |
26 wks (n = 12) |
18.5 wks (n = 10) |
| Condition (n = 34)c | |||
| Cancer | 7 (20.6) | 5 (29.4) | 2 (11.8) |
| No disorder | 7 (20.6) | 7 (41.2) | - |
| Diabetes | 2 (5.9) | 1 (5.9) | 1 (5.9) |
| Carers | 4 (11.8) | - | 4 (23.5) |
| Chronic illness | 2 (5.9) | - | 2 (11.8) |
| Neurological | 2 (5.9) | - | 2 (11.8) |
| Depression | 2 (5.9) | 2 (11.8) | - |
| Other mental disorder | 2 (5.9) | 1 (5.9) | 1 (5.9) |
| Cardiovascular | 1 (2.9) | 1 (5.9) | 1 (5.9) |
| Renal | 1 (2.9) | 1 (5.9) | - |
| HIV/AIDS | 2 (5.9) | - | 2 (11.8) |
| IVF | 2 (5.9) | - | 2 (11.8) |
| Participant mean/median age (n = 34)c | |||
| 11 to 17 yrs | 3 (8.8) | 2 (11.8) | 1 (5.9) |
| 18 to 25 yrs | 4 (11.8) | 3 (17.6) | 1 (5.9) |
| 26 to 40 yrs | 5 (14.7) | 2 (11.8) | 3 (17.6) |
| 41 to 65 yrs | 11 (32.4) | 4 (23.5) | 7 (41.2) |
| Not certain | 11 (32.4) | 6 (35.3) | 5 (29.4) |
| Gender (n = 34)c | |||
| > 70% women | 16 (47.1) | 9 (56.3) | 7 (46.7) |
| > 70% men | 4 (11.8) | - | 4 (25.0) |
| Neither gender > 70% | 11 (32.4) | 7 (43.8) | 4 (50) |
| Don’t know | 3 (8.8) | 1 (6.3) | 2 (11.8) |
| Rural (n = 34)c | |||
| > 50% rural | 1 (2.9) | 0 (0) | 1 (5.9) |