439 patients were approached in rheumatology outpatients; a total of 300 were recruited; 100 declined to participate and 23 were excluded because they did not meet eligibility criteria. All of the 300 recruited were allocated in equal groups to intervention or placebo; 147 attended the 3 month follow up visit in the placebo arm and 143 in the intervention arm; at the 6 month visit 139 subjects randomised to placebo attended and 140 randomised to the intervention attended the 6 month visit. No one was excluded from analysis.