Adamson, J., Cockayne, S., Puffer, S. et al. (1 more author) (2006) Review of randomised trials using the post-randomised consent (Zelen's) design. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 27 (4). pp. 305-319. ISSN 1551-7144
Abstract
BACKGROUND
In 1979, Zelen described a trial method of randomising participants before acquiring consent in order to enhance recruitment to clinical trials. The method has been criticised ethically due to lack of consent and scientifically due to high crossover rates. This paper reviews recent published trials using this method and describes the reasons authors gave for using the method, examines the crossover rates, and looks at the quality of identified trials
METHODS
Literature review searching for all citations to the relevant Zelen's papers of trials published since 1990 plus inclusion of trials from personal knowledge.
RESULTS
We identified 58 relevant trials. The most common justification for the use of Zelen method was to avoid the introduction of bias (e.g., to avoid the Hawthorne effect). Few trialists had explicitly used the design to enhance participant recruitment. Most trials (n = 41) experienced some crossover from one group to the other (median crossover = 8.9%, mean = 13.8%, IQR 2.6% to 15%) although this was usually within acceptable limits.
CONCLUSION
The most important reason stated by authors for using Zelen's method was to limit bias. Zelen's method, if carefully used, can avoid ‘resentful demoralisation’ and the Hawthorne effect biasing a trial. Unlike a previous review, we found that crossover was not a problem for most trials.
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: | York RAE Import |
Date Deposited: | 12 Jun 2009 11:42 |
Last Modified: | 12 Jun 2009 11:42 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2005.11.003 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.cct.2005.11.003 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:5917 |