Table 1 Characteristics of high attenders compared to low/non attenders of the lifestyle modification program

Demographic Characteristics

Female

78 (66.7%)

46 (57.5%)

P = 0.191

Mean age (St Dev)

58.2 (5.7)

57.3 (5.6)

P = 0.778

Age 40-54

25 (21.4%)

18 (22.5)

P = 0.850

Age 55-64

92 (78.6)

62 (77.5)

Low deprivation area

25 (21.4%)

34 (42.5%)

P = 0.001*

Moderate deprivation area

70 (59.8)

42 (52.5)

High deprivation area

22 (18.8)

4 (5.0)

Education: TAFE/University/other qualification

64 (56.6%)

50 (62.5%)

P = 0.414

Employed

67 (58.8%)

62 (77.5%)

P = 0.007*

Retired

23 (20.2%)

7 (8.8%)

Not working (other reasons¹)

24 (21.1%)

11 (13.8%)

Primarily speak English at home

99 (85.3%)

68 (85.0%)

P = 0.947

Australian Born

87 (75.0%)

58 (72.5%)

P = 0.743

Patient Health Risk Profile

Blood pressure (>135/85)

14 (14.4%)

4 (7.1%)

P = 0.178

Lipids (LDL > 2, HDL < 1, TG > 1.5 or TC >4)

114 (97.4%)

74 (97.4%)

P = 0.977

BMI (≥25)

85 (73.3%)

61 (76.3%)

P = 0.639

Diet risk

43 (38.4%)

33 (45.8%)

P = 0.317

Physical inactivity

75 (64.7)

49 (62.0)

P = 0.708

Alcohol risk

31 (33.3%)

28 (44.4%)

P = 0.160

Tobacco

10 (8.8%)

9 (11.4%)

P = 0.561

Health status excellent/very good/good

99 (85.3)

65 (81.3)

P = 0.446

Psychological distress (K10score 16+)

49 (45.4%)

21 (27.3%)

P = 0.012

Practice Characteristics / Factors

Urban practice

23 (19.7%)

22 (27.5%)

P = 0.198

Rural practice

94 (80.3%)

58 (72.5)

Patient of practice for > 6 years

66 (61.7%)

36 (55.4%)

P = 0.577

Small practice (1–2 GPs)

50 (42.7%)

26 (32.5%)

P = 0.004*

Medium practice (3–4 GPs)

50 (42.7%)

26 (32.5%)

Large practice (5+ GPs)

17 (14.5%)

28 (35.0%)

Practice nurse(s) work at the practice

77 (65.8%)

60 (75.0%)

P = 0.169

Practice nurse(s) has a role in preventive care

60 (52.6%)

51 (65.4%)

P = 0.242

Administrative staff have a role in preventive care

104 (88.9%)

71 (88.8%)

P = 0.976

Practice employs or rents rooms to allied health professionals

88 (75.2%)

48 (60%)

P = 0.023*

Practice has written preventive care protocols

85 (72.6%)

52 (65.0%)

P = 0.002*

Provision of PA or diet advice/referral for those at risk (quality of care indicator)

49 (45.4)

27(35.5)

P = 0.182

Satisfaction with GP provision of diet and PA advice/referral for those at risk

60 (55.6)

34 (44.7)

P = 0.148