Statistical Analysis
Continuous variables were described using means (±standard deviation)
for normally distributed data and medians (±interquartile range) for
non-parametric data. Categorical variables were described as absolute
numbers and percentage frequencies. As length of stay data, and
therefore also bed day usage across groups, was non-normally
distributed, all analyses relating to these were treated as
non-parametric and tested using a Mann-Whitney U. Categorical variables
were tested using the Fisher Exact test.
Data was analysed using the StatsDirectTM software
package version 3.