Randomization techniques in protocols for cluster randomized trials
Planning cluster randomized studies requires special attention due to their specific design. To achieve balance on a cluster level as well as on individual level, it is necessary to apply randomization techniques which involve restricted randomization. Objective: Determine randomization techniques a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Medicinski fakultet Priština, Društvo lekara Kosova i Metohije Srpskog lekarskog društva
2017-01-01
|
| Series: | Praxis Medica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0350-8773/2017/0350-87731704001K.pdf |
| Summary: | Planning cluster randomized studies requires special attention due to their specific design. To achieve balance on a cluster level as well as on individual level, it is necessary to apply randomization techniques which involve restricted randomization. Objective: Determine randomization techniques as well as their frequency in protocols for cluster randomized trials. Materials and method: Searching the MEDLINE bibliographic database, there were 1020 bibliographic units, the analysis included only the protocols for cluster randomized trials, which was a total of 169 trials. Data on randomization techniques, units of randomization and publication years of protocols were extracted. Results: The randomization technique with most frequency was stratification (35.9%). After stratification the most frequent was simple randomization (13.5%), followed by a combination of block and stratification (10%), block randomization (9.4%) and matching (9.4%). The most frequent units of randomization were health facilities (52%). The number of published protocols statistically increases during time (p<0.01). Conclusion: The most frequent randomization technique used by researchers is restricted randomization. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0350-8773 2560-3310 |