Table 1 Outcome measures, timing of data collection and source of data

Patient identifiers, type of problem, age and sex

Pre-consent

Referral letter. Recorded (anonymised) in research database

Demographic details

Baseline

Baseline patient questionnaire

SF36v2

Baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months

Patient questionnaires

MYMOP

Baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months

Patient questionnaires

EQ5D

Baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months

Patient questionnaires

Overall perception of improvement

6 weeks, 6 months

Patient questionnaires

Time lost from work and usual activities

Baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months

Patient questionnaires

Satisfaction with care provided

6 weeks, 6 months

Patient questionnaire

Preference for Physiodirect or usual care

Baseline, 6 months

Patient questionnaires

Waiting time for treatment

Collected at end of study

Physiotherapy service records, from date of referral received to date first phone or face-to-face consultation

Patient and companion costs

6 weeks, 6 months

Patient questionnaires

Cost of lost production associated with time off work and usual activities.

6 weeks, 6 months

Estimated from information in patient questionnaires

Costs of providing physiotherapy

Set up costs: collected during set up phase and once the service is operating.

Treatment over 6 months: collected at end of study.

Set up: data from PCTs about resources involved in setting up the service; Treatment: physiotherapy records, data collected within the trial about lengths of consultations, staff use of time, staff grades etc.

Costs in general practice (consultations, treatments, investigations)

Collected at end of study, from randomisation to 6 months

Patients GP records, consultations costed using Netten and Curtis and NHS reference costs for other costs

Costs of prescriptions

Collected at end of study, from randomisation to 6 months

Patients GP records, costed using British National Formulary

NHS secondary care costs (outpatients, inpatients, admissions)

6 weeks, 6 months

Patient questionnaires for resource use, costed using NHS tariffs

Process evaluation: number, type & duration of consultations with physiotherapists; non-attended appointments with physiotherapists.

Collected throughout study from randomisation to 6 months

Physiotherapy records

Qualifications and experience of physiotherapists.

Collected at the beginning of the study

Online questionnaire completed by physiotherapists

Complaints and adverse events

Collected throughout study from randomisation to 6 months

Notified by patients, physiotherapy services, general practices or any other sources.