Outcomes of included studies
| Reference | WT1, mean ± SD* | Reduction, mean ± SD* | Patient volume | WT1 for control group | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before SEM | After SEM | Absolute | Relative, % | Before SEM | After SEM | ||
| Leach et al. (2004) (12) | No. of patients waiting > 26 wk: 85 No. of patients waiting 13–26 wk: 90 | No. of patients waiting > 26 wk: 0 No. of patients waiting 13–26 wk: 15 | No. of patients waiting > 26 wk: 85 No. of patients waiting 13–26 wk: 75 | % of patients waiting > 26 wk: 100 % of patients waiting 13–26 wk: 83.3 | NA | NA | NA |
| Bichel et al. (2009) (14) | Urgent: 29 ± 46 d Moderate-level: 110 ± 57 d Routine: 155 ± 88 d | Urgent: 17 ± 14 d (p < 0.05) Moderate-level: 63 ± 42 d (p < 0.00005) Routine: 108 ± 37 d (statistical test not performed) | Urgent: 12 ± 48 d Moderate-level: 47 ± 71 d Routine: 47 ± 95 d | Urgent: mean 41.4 Moderate-level: mean 42.7 Routine: mean 30.3 | Increases in referral volume: 75% for endocrinology, 50% for gastroenterology, 26% for general internal medicine; no change in referral volume for rheumatology and hematology | NA | NA |
| Bungard et al. (2009) (15) | 71 ± 45 d | 33 ± 19 d (p < 0.001) | 38 ± 49 d | 53.5 | Increase by about 50% from 2004 to 2005 and by 19% from 2005 to 2006 | NA | NA |
| Macleod et al. (2009) (10) | Knee: 203 d Hip: 162 d | Knee: 115 d Hip: 98 d | Knee: 88 d Hip: 64 d | Knee: 43.3 Hip: 39.5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Van den Heuvel et al. (2012) (16) | 208 ± 139 d | 59 ± 70 d | 149 ± 156 d | 71.6 | NA | NA | NA |
| Schacter et al. (2013) (17) | 98 ± 84 d | 64 ± 73 d | 34 ± 111 d | 34.7 | NA | NA | NA |
| Clark (2015) (11) | About 24 to > 48 mo | 9-mo overall reduction | 274 d | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Hazlewood et al. (2016) (6) | Routine: 155 ± 88 d Moderate-level: 110 ± 57 d Urgent: 29 ± 46 d | Routine: 149 ± 65 d (p = 0.11) Moderate-level: 78 ± 56 d (p < 0.001) Urgent: 18 ± 23 d (p = 0.01) | Routine: 6 ± 109 d Moderate-level: 32 ± 80 d Urgent: 11 ± 51 d | Routine: 3.87 Moderate-level: 29.1 Urgent: 37.9 | NA | NA | NA |
| Wittmeier et al. (2016) (18) | Children with complex needs (neurodevelopmental conditions): 29.8 ± 17.9 d | Children with complex needs: 24.3 ± 17.0 d (p < 0.0001) | 5.5 ± 25 d | 18.5 | Complex needs: same referral volume Comparison groups: increased referral volume | Comparison group (orthopedic conditions): 20.4 ± 14.3 d | Comparison group: 22.1 ± 13.1 d (p < 0.0001) |
| Goodsall et al. (2017) (19) | 78 d | 58 d (p < 0.01) | 20 d | 25.6 | NA | NA | NA |
Note: NA = not available, SD = standard deviation, SEM = single-entry model, WT = wait time, WT1 = wait time 1.
↵* Except where indicated otherwise.