Comparison 1. Patient‐initiated appointment systems versus consultant‐led appointment systems.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Patient outcomes: anxiety (HADS lower score = better 0–21) (12–24 months)	5		Odds Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	0.87 [0.68, 1.12]
1.1 Cancer	3		Odds Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	0.94 [0.55, 1.59]
1.2 Psoriasis	1		Odds Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.64, 1.23]
1.3 Rheumatoid arthritis	1		Odds Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	0.70 [0.36, 1.36]
2 Patient outcomes: depression (HADS lower score = better 0–21) (9–24months)	6		Odds Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	0.79 [0.51, 1.23]
2.1 Cancer	3		Odds Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	0.80 [0.23, 2.71]
2.2 Inflammatory bowel disease	1		Odds Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	0.74 [0.34, 1.63]
2.3 Psoriasis	1		Odds Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	1.0 [0.72, 1.38]
2.4 Rheumatoid arthritis	1		Odds Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	0.39 [0.16, 0.96]
3 Patient outcomes: quality of life (12–18 months)	7	1486	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.12 [‐0.00, 0.25]
3.1 Cancer	2	296	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.07 [‐0.33, 0.20]
3.2 Asthma	1	115	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.47 [0.10, 0.84]
3.3 Inflammatory bowel disease	2	735	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.15 [0.00, 0.29]
3.4 Psoriasis	1	147	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.01 [‐0.33, 0.31]
3.5 Rheumatoid arthritis	1	193	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.21 [‐0.07, 0.50]
4 Rheumatoid arthritis: disease activity (VAS and DAS 12–24 months)	2	375	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.21 [‐0.41, ‐0.01]
5 Rheumatoid arthritis: self‐efficacy (ASES 12–24 months)	2	375	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	4.95 [0.57, 9.34]
6 Rheumatoid arthritis: pain (VAS 12–24 months)	2	375	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.71 [‐1.17, ‐0.26]
7 Rheumatoid arthritis: disability (HAQ 12–24 months)	2	375	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.06 [‐0.19, 0.06]
8 Rheumatoid arthritis: patient satisfaction	2	375	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.05 [‐0.41, 0.52]
9 Service utilisation (contacts)			Other data	No numeric data
10 Service utilisation (costs)			Other data	No numeric data
11 Missed appointments	2	599	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.27 [‐0.42, ‐0.12]
12 Adverse event: relapses (12–60 months)	3	888	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.20 [‐0.54, 0.14]
12.1 Inflammatory bowel disease	2	624	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.4 [‐0.72, ‐0.08]
12.2 Cancer	1	264	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.03 [‐0.08, 0.14]
13 Patient satisfaction			Other data	No numeric data
13.1 Rheumatoid arthritis			Other data	No numeric data
13.2 Inflammatory bowel disease			Other data	No numeric data
13.3 Cancer			Other data	No numeric data
13.4 Psoriasis			Other data	No numeric data
14 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: other outcomes			Other data	No numeric data
15 Cancer: other outcomes			Other data	No numeric data
16 Inflammatory bowel disease: other outcomes			Other data	No numeric data
17 Psoriasis: other outcomes			Other data	No numeric data
18 Rheumatoid arthritis: other outcomes			Other data	No numeric data
19 Asthma: other outcomes			Other data	No numeric data