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Table 1 Descriptive demographic and baseline characteristics of participants
| FMP (n = 84) | CLP (n = 80) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender [n (%)] | ||
| ▪ Female | 61 (73%) | 58 (73%) |
| ▪ Male | 23 (27%) | 22 (28%) |
| Age (years) | ||
| Mean (S.D.) | 48.0 (10.2) | 50.1 (9.1) |
| Range | 23-73 | 28-70 |
| Ethnicity [n (%)] | ||
| ▪ White English | 68 (85%) | 69 (92%) |
| ▪ White British | 7 (9%) | 5 (7%) |
| ▪ Other | 5 (6%) | 1 (1%) |
| ▪ Not stated | 4 | 5 |
| Disease type (self-reported) [n (%)] | ||
| ▪ Benign | 4 (5%) | 2 (3%) |
| ▪ Relapsing-remitting | 35 (43%) | 40 (51%) |
| ▪ Secondary progressive | 16 (20%) | 23 (29%) |
| ▪ Primary progressive | 5 (6%) | 8 (10%) |
| ▪ Participant states “Don’t know” | 21 (26%) | 5 (6%) |
| ▪ Not stated | 3 | 2 |
| APDDS score (Adapted Patient Determined Disease Steps) [n (%)] | ||
| ▪ 3 or less (No limitations on walking) | 18 (22%) | 15 (19%) |
| ▪ 4 or 5 (MS interferes with walking) | 37 (46%) | 42 (54%) |
| ▪ 6 or more (At min., needs stick/crutch to walk 100 m) | 26 (32%) | 21 (27%) |
| ▪ Not stated | 3 | 2 |
| Level of education [n (%)] | ||
| Highest qualification achieved: | ||
| ▪ No qualifications | 8 (10%) | 8 (10%) |
| ▪ One or more GCSE (or equiv.) | 36 (46%) | 29 (38%) |
| ▪ One or more A level (or equiv.) | 10 (13%) | 12 (16%) |
| ▪ First degree (or equiv.) | 16 (20%) | 19 (25%) |
| ▪ Higher degree/professional qualification | 9 (11%) | 8 (11%) |
| ▪ Not stated | 5 | 4 |
| Employment status [n (%)] | ||
| ▪ In full time employment (>30 hours per week) | 15 (18%) | 11 (14%) |
| ▪ In part-time employment (≤30 hours per week) | 11 (14%) | 13 (17%) |
| ▪ Self-employed | 4 (5%) | 4 (5%) |
| ▪ Not in paid employment (unemployed, in education, retired, looking after home) | 51 (63%) | 50 (64%) |
| ▪ Not stated | 3 | 2 |
| Marital status [n (%)] | ||
| ▪ Married/cohabiting | 63 (78%) | 54 (71%) |
| ▪ Single | 5 (6%) | 7 (9%) |
| ▪ Separated/divorced | 9 (11%) | 14 (18%) |
| ▪ Widowed | 4 (5%) | 1 (1%) |
| ▪ Not stated | 3 | 4 |
| Years since diagnosis [n (%)] | ||
| ▪ <1 yr | 2 (3%) | 4 (5%) |
| ▪ 1–5 yrs | 32 (40%) | 21 (27%) |
| ▪ 6–10 yrs | 13 (16%) | 19 (24%) |
| ▪ 11–15 yrs | 21 (26%) | 12 (15%) |
| ▪ ≥16 yrs | 12 (15%) | 22 (28%) |
| ▪ Not stated | 4 | 2 |
