Step | Selection criteria | Documented variables | Performed by |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Patients ≥ 70 years who have seen their GP within the past 6 months → N1 | Number (N1) |  |
2. | Screening N1: Exclusion of institutionalised patients (nursing home) → N2 | Number (N2) |  |
3. | Screening N2 for inclusion and exclusion criteria → N3 | Number (N3) | Study physician and practice nurse |
 | if N3 is < 20 → Exclusion of practice |  |  |
 | if N3 is between 20 and x* → N3 = N4 → Step 4 |  |  |
 | if N3 is > x* → x* patients are randomly selected → x* = N4 → Step 4 |  |  |
4. | Final list of patients to be invited → N4 | -Number (N4) -Year of birth -Sex |  |
5. | Mailing of invitations to N4 for a screening at the GP's practice; appointments with interested patients are made according to a given timetable. | Â | Practice nurse |
6. | Screening of patients at the GP's practice → N5 -final assessment of eligibility -patient information -written informed consent | -Number (N5) -Year of birth -Sex -Written informed consent -Reasons for exclusion | 1. GP 2. Exercise therapist |
7. | Patients who keep their first appointment with the exercise therapist to start the intervention → N6 | -Number (N6) -All patient characteristics | Exercise therapist |