2.5 Statistical analysis
Data were coded, entered and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 24.0). All statistical tests were two-sided, and P values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics of patients were compared using Chi square test for categorical variables, and independent sample t-test for continuous variables. When comparing continuous variables within research groups in the same study arm, between baseline and end of the study, paired sample t-test was used. For categorical variables, McNemar test was used to compare the results within the same arm of study pre- and post-intervention. And when comparing the continuous variables between the different arms of the study, at baseline or at follow-up, independent sample t-test was used, for comparing the categorical variables Chi square test was used. Pearson correlation test was used to find correlations between continuous data.
3. RESULTS