Clark, Laura Kate orcid.org/0000-0001-9227-5447, Fairhurst, Caroline Marie orcid.org/0000-0003-0547-462X and Torgerson, David John orcid.org/0000-0002-1667-4275 (2016) Allocation Concealment in Randomised Controlled Trials:Could do Better. BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055
Abstract
Separating the act of randomisation from the person recruiting a trial participant is the keystone for a robust randomised controlled trial. Much methodological research has demonstrated that randomisation could be subverted by researchers or clinicians if the possibility exists. Consequently, for a RCT to be robust methods must be used to ensure that allocation subversion is difficult or impossible. However, in a sample of 79 trials published in major medical journals in June-August 2015 a large proportion (19%) used suboptimal allocation concealment, which undermines their rigour. Journals should specify that in future, trials will not be published if they used sub-optimal allocation methods. Furthermore, trials that use blocked randomisation should statistically test whether or not there is a relationship between block position and outcome.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Health Sciences (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 03 Nov 2016 11:36 |
Last Modified: | 16 Oct 2024 13:23 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:106700 |
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Description: Clark 2016_Allocation concealment in randomised controlled trials could do better
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