Altman, D.G and Bland, J.M (2005) Treatment allocation by minimisation. BMJ, 330 (7495). p. 843. ISSN 0959-535X
Abstract
In almost all controlled trials treatments are allocated by randomisation. Blocking and stratification can be used to ensure balance between groups in size and patient characteristics. But stratified randomisation using several variables is not effective in small trials. The only widely acceptable alternative approach is minimisation, a method of ensuring excellent balance between groups for several prognostic factors, even in small samples. With minimisation the treatment allocated to the next participant enrolled in the trial depends (wholly or partly) on the characteristics of those participants already enrolled. The aim is that each allocation should minimise the imbalance across multiple factors.
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: | Repository Officer |
Date Deposited: | 18 Nov 2008 12:13 |
Last Modified: | 18 Nov 2008 12:13 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.330.7495.843 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | BMJ Publishing |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1136/bmj.330.7495.843 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:4846 |