A summary of the patients’ characteristics who participated in the post-test interviews is shown in Table 12. As shown in the Table, more than half of the patients were females (52.2%) and the rest were males (47.8%). The average patients’ age was 61 years and the patients were mostly 56 years and older (82.6%). Most of the patients completed a high school certificate (72.7%). More than half of the patients (52.2%) were from MRC, 17.4% were from DGP and HHC, and 13% were from HMC. Approximately half of the patients (47.8%) were Australians and more than one fifth (21.7%) were Italians. More than two thirds of the patients (78.3%) can read and write English. 39.1% of the patients saw the doctor 4 weeks ago of the date of the follow-up interview and 17.45% of the patients saw the doctor 2 and 3 weeks ago.
Table 12: A summary of the patients’ characteristics
Variables | Categories | Frequency (percentage) | Missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | 11 (47.8%) | 0 |
| Female | 12 (52.2%) | ||
| Age Range:
The average age of participants is 61 years. | 31-35 | 1 (4.3%) | 0 |
| 41-45 | 1 (4.3%) | ||
| 46-50 | 1 (4.3%) | ||
| 51-55 | 1 (4.3%) | ||
| 56-60 | 7 (30.4%) | ||
| 61 or older | 12 (52.2%) | ||
| Education Level | Primary school | 2 (9.1%) | 1 |
| High School | 16 (72.7%) | ||
| Diploma | 2(9.1%) | ||
| Undergraduate | 1(4.5%) | ||
| Postgraduate | 1(4.5%) | ||
| Participating Clinic | MRC | 12 (52.2%) | 0 |
| DGP | 4 (17.4%) | ||
| HHC | 4 (17.4%) | ||
| HMC | 3 (13%) | ||
| Ethnic Background | Australian | 11 (47.8%) | 0 |
| Italian | 5 (21.7%) | ||
| Greek | 2(8.7%) | ||
| English/Irish | 1(4.3%) | ||
| Fijian | 1(4.3%) | ||
| Maltese | 1(4.3%) | ||
| Sri Lankan | 1(4.3%) | ||
| Welsh | 1(4.3%) | ||
| Can you read and write English? | Yes (can read and write) | 18(78.3%) | 0 |
| Can read but cannot write | 3(13%) | ||
| Little bit | 1(4.35%) | ||
| Some | 1(4.35%) | ||
| When did you see the doctor last time? | 1 week ago | 3(13%) | 0 |
| 2 weeks ago | 4(17.45%) | ||
| 3 weeks ago | 4(17.45%) | ||
| 4 weeks ago | 9(39.1%) | ||
| 8 weeks ago | 2(8.7%) | ||
| 12 weeks ago | 1(4.3%) |