Table 2 Characteristics of participants and dropouts in two study groups
| Â | Participants | Dropouts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | TCM group N (%) | Placebo group N (%) | TCM group N (%) | Placebo group N (%) |
Characteristic | N = 41 | N = 40 | N = 11 | N = 8 |
Sex | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Male | 8 (19.5) | 5(12.5) | 3 (27) | 2 (25) |
   Female | 33 (80.5) | 35 (87.5) | 8 (73) | 6 (75) |
Marital status | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Single | 16 (39.0) | 12 (30.0) | 2 (18) | 4 (50) |
   Married | 25 (61.0) | 28 (70.0) | 9 (82) | 4 (50) |
Education level | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   < Primary level | 5 (12.2) | 3 (7.5) | 1 (9) | 0 |
   < F.5 | 5 (12.2) | 3 (7.5) | 6(55) | 5(63) |
   > F.5 | 16 (39.0) | 17 (42.5) | 1(9) | 0 |
   University level or above | 15 (36.6) | 17 (42.5) | 3(27) | 3(37) |
Status | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   HA/CU staff | 36 (87.8) | 38 (95.0) | 11 (100) | 8 (100) |
   Dependant of HA/CU staff | 5 (12.2) | 1 (2.5) | 0 | 0 |
Occupation | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   HA staff: | 36 (44.4) | 39 (48.1) |  |  |
   Nurses | 8 (19.5) | 11 (27.5) | 2(18) | 1 (12) |
   Allied health | 5 (12.2) | 4 (10) | 1(9) | 3(38) |
   Technician/Researcher | 2 (4.9) | 3 (7.5) | 0 | 0 |
   HCA (Health Care Assistant) | 2 (4.9) | 1 (2.5) | 1(9) | 0 |
   GSA/WS/Workman | 9 (22.0) | 5 (12.5) | 2(18) | 1(12) |
   Administration/Clerk | 8 (19.5) | 8 (20.0) | 4(37) | 2(26) |
   Medical student | 2 (4.9) | 5 (12.5) | 1(9) | 1(12) |
   Retired | 0 (0) | 1 (2.5) |  |  |
   Chaplin | 0 (0) | 1 (2.5) |  |  |
   Dependent of HA/CU staff | 5 (6.2) | 1 (1.2) |  |  |
   Non-health professional | 2 (4.9) | 1 (2.5) |  |  |
   White collar | 1 (2.4) | 0(0) |  |  |
   Student | 2 (4.9) | 0(0) |  |  |
Baseline | Â | Â | Â | Â |
| Â | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) |
Age | 36.0 (10.9) | 35.4 (8.5) | 37.1(8.8) | 31.8(5.8) |
Days of cough onset for this episode | 3.7 (2.6) | 4.3 (6.5) | 2.9(1.7) | 1.6(0.7) |
Height (cm) | 159 (6.9) | 158.9 (9.0) | 159.7(8.0) | 162.3(3.3) |
Weight (kg) | 58.7 (11.8) | 56.1 (8.7) | 60.8(11.9) | 56.9(7.1) |
SBP (mmHg) | 125.5 (16.3) | 121.3 (16.8) | 131.4(12.0) | 123.9(11.4) |
DBP (mmHg) | 73.6 (12.1) | 69.8 (9.3) | 79.3(11.0) | 72.5(7.5) |
Pulse/min | 79.5 (9.6) | 77.2 (11.7) | 84.4(9.0) | 73.8(8.3) |
Temperature (°C) | 36.5 (0.4) | 36.5 (0.4) | 36.5(0.5) | 36.6(0.3) |