Table 1 Descriptive demographic and baseline characteristics of participants

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