Bias in identifying and recruiting participants in cluster randomised trials: what can be done?

Eldridge, Sandra, Kerry, Sally and Torgerson, David J. (2009) Bias in identifying and recruiting participants in cluster randomised trials: what can be done? British Medical Journal. -. ISSN 0959-8146

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Abstract

(Summary Points) . Poor design of cluster trials risks bias in selection of participants. . Ideally participants should be identified before the cluster is randomised. . When this is not possible recruitment should be by someone masked to the cluster allocation. . Statistical solutions to selection bias are less satisfactory than design solutions. . Cluster trials need to report cluster sizes to enable the readers to ascertain any differences in recruitment between treatment groups.

Item Type:	Article
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information:	© 2009 BMJ Publishing Group. This is an author produced version of a paper published in the BMJ. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self archiving policy.
Keywords:	PRIMARY-CARE, GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS, SELECTION BIAS, PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, BEHAVIOR, RISK
Academic Units:	The University of York > Health Sciences (York)
Depositing User:	Repository Administrator York
Date Deposited:	10 Nov 2009 15:32
Last Modified:	01 May 2013 23:02
Published Version:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b4006
Status:	Published
Refereed:	Yes
Related URLs:	http://www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b4006
URI:	http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/10122

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