Reducing wait time from referral to first visit for community outpatient services may contribute to better health outcomes: a systematic review

Table 6 Evidence synthesis for waiting for treatment for musculoskeletal conditions

Outcome	Number of trials	Number of participants	Overall effect of short wait	Level of evidence			Clinical impact
Outcome	Number of trials	Number of participants	Overall effect of short wait	Evidence base	Consistency	Overall	Clinical impact
Workplace participation	3 [49, 51, 54]	4125	Positive effect	Low	Low	Low	Moderate
Pain	3 [49, 51, 53]	360	No effect	Moderate	Excellent	Moderate	N/A
Function	4 [51,52,53, 55]	577	No effect	Moderate	Excellent	Moderate	N/A
QOL	2 [45, 53]	24,298	Positive effect	Moderate	Very Low	Very Low	Slight
Satisfaction	2 [45, 49]	24,394	Positive effect	Low	Very Low	Very Low	Slight
Depressive symptoms	1 [53]	102	Positive effect	Moderate	N/A	Moderate	Slight
Anxiety symptoms	1 [53]	102	Positive effect	Moderate	N/A	Moderate	Slight

ISSN: 1472-6963