Characteristics of participants completing and not completing the extended follow-up by arm
| Characteristic by arm | Participants completing the extended follow-up | Participants not completing the extended follow-up | Participants completing the extended follow-up | Participants not completing the extended follow-up | Participants completing the extended follow-up | Participants not completing the extended follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study arm | Exercise programme | Usual care | Combined | |||
| Age at randomisation, mean (SD) | 62.9 (11.0) | 58.6 (14.0) | 64.3 (10.8) | 61.5 (12.1) | 63.6 (10.9) | 59.8 (13.2) |
| Sex, F (%) | 77.4 | 74.7 | 74.0 | 81.2 | 75.6 | 77.5 |
| Ethnic origin, n (%) | ||||||
| White | 85 (93.4) | 153 (98.7) | 66 (95.7) | 169 (98.3) | 151 (93.4) | 322 (98.5) |
| Indian | 2 (2.2) | 1 (0.7) | – | 2 (1.2) | 2 (1.3) | 3 (0.9) |
| Pakistani | – | – | 1 (1.5) | – | 1 (0.6) | – |
| Mixed | 2 (2.2) | 1 (0.7) | 1 (1.5) | – | 3 (1.9) | 1 (0.3) |
| Other | 2 (2.2) | – | 1 (1.5) | 1 (0.6) | 3 (1.9) | 1 (0.3) |
| Disease duration (years), mean (SD) | 12.4 (10.8) | 14.4 (10.4) | 14.7 (12.5) | 12.4 (10.7) | 13.7 (11.8) | 13.5 (10.6) |
| Baseline ESR Median (IQR) | 13.0 (7.0, 26.0) | 21.0 (9.0,30.0) | 17.0 (9.0, 30.0) | 13.0 (8.0, 27.0) | 15.0 (8.0,28.0) | 18.5 (8.0, 28.5) |
| Baseline CRP Median (IQR) | 5.0 (3.0,11.0) | 6.5 (3.0,13.0) | 6.0, (3.0,13.0) | 6.0 (3.0, 11.0) | 5.0 (3.0, 12.0) | 6.0 (3.0, 12.0) |
| Medications, n (%) | ||||||
| Biologic DMARD | 30 (19.4) | 22 (24.2) | 35 (20.2) | 17 (24.6) | 65 (19.8) | 39 (24.4) |
| Combination non-biologic DMARD | 46 (29.7) | 26 (28.6) | 42 (24.3) | 11 (15.9) | 42 (26.8) | 37 (23.1) |
| Single non-biologic DMARD | 66 (42.6) | 37 (40.7) | 85 (49.1) | 33 (47.8) | 85 (46.0) | 70 (43.8) |
| Other medications | 13 (8.4) | 6 (6.6) | 11 (6.4) | 8 (11.6) | 11 (3.4) | 14 (8.8) |
| Baseline MHQ hand function, mean (SD) | 53.9 (15.1) | 48.9 (14.8) | 54.1 (15.6) | 47.0 (17.4) | 54.0 (15.4) | 48.1 (15.9) |
| Baseline SF-12 physical summary score, mean (SD) | 35.4 (9.7) | 31.1 (9.4) | 35.4 (9.7) | 32.1 (8.5) | 35.4 (9.7) | 31.5 (9.0) |
| Baseline SF-12 mental summary score, mean (SD) | 49.7 (10.5) | 45.5 (10.7) | 50.4 (10.4) | 45.1 (11.7) | 50.1 (10.4) | 45.3 (11.1) |
| Baseline EQ5D health state, mean (SD) | 0.6 (0.3) | 0.5 (0.3) | 0.6 (0.2) | 0.5 (0.3) | 0.6 (0.3) | 0.5 (0.3) |
| Baseline pain troublesomeness score, mean (SD) | 43.1 (20.5 | 50.9 (24.2) | 46.0 (21.1) | 54.6 (21.6) | 44.6 (20.9) | 52.5 (23.1) |
| Baseline self-efficacy—confidence to manage their condition, mean (SD) | 69.5 (18.2) | 62.5 (23.0) | 71.3 (17.7) | 62.2 (21.0) | 70.5 (17.9) | 62.4 (22.1) |
| Participant reported frequency of hand exercises at 4 months, n (%) | ||||||
| At least 3 times a week | 107 (71.8) | 44 (67.7) | 80 (48.2) | 25 (45.5) | 187 (59.4) | 69 (57.5) |
| <3 times a week | 26 (17.5) | 11 (16.9) | 36 (21.7) | 5 (9.1) | 62 (19.7) | 16 (13.3) |
| No exercises | 16 (10.7) | 10 (15.4) | 50 (30.1) | 25 (45.5) | 66 (21.0) | 35 (29.2) |
| Participant-reported frequency of hand exercises at 12 months, n (%) | ||||||
| At least 3 times a week | 61 (40.4) | 18 (33.3) | 66 (39.1) | 18 (38.3) | 127 (39.7) | 36 (35.6) |
| <3 times a week | 53 (35.1) | 12 (22.2) | 35 (20.7) | 9 (19.1) | 88 (27.5) | 21 (20.8) |
| No exercises | 37 (24.5) | 24 (44.4) | 68 (40.2) | 20 (42.6) | 105 (32.8) | 44 (43.6) |
| Change in MHQ hand function baseline to 12 months, mean (SD) | 7.2 (13.6) | 9.8 (16.8) | 3.2 (16.0) | 4.8 (16.3) | 5.1 (15.0) | 7.5 (16.7) |
| Change in SF-12 physical summary score baseline to 12 months, mean (SD) | 0.8 (7.2) | 2.3 (6.3) | –0.1 (7.6) | 0.5 (6.7) | 0.3 (7.5) | 1.5 (6.5) |
| Change in SF-12 mental summary score baseline to 12 months, mean (SD) | 2.1 (9.9) | 2.4 (12.4) | 0.2 (9.5) | 1.1 (10.8) | 1.1 (9.7) | 1.8 (11.7) |
| Change in EQ5D health state baseline to 12 months, Mean (SD) | 0.0 (0.2) | 0.0 (0.2) | 0.0 (0.2) | 0.0 (0.3) | 0.0 (0.2) | 0.0 (0.3) |
CRP, C reactive protein; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; EQ5D, EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire, MHQ, Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire.