Table 13.2.a: List of study design features (studies with allocation to interventions at the individual level)
|
RCT |
Q-RCT |
NRCT |
CBA |
PCS |
RCS |
HCT |
NCC |
CC |
XS |
BA |
CR/CS |
Was there a comparison: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Between two or more groups of participants receiving different interventions? |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Within the same group of participants over time? |
P |
P |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Were participants allocated to groups by: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Concealed randomization? |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
na |
na |
Quasi-randomization? |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
na |
na |
By other action of researchers? |
N |
N |
Y |
P |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
na |
na |
Time differences? |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
na |
na |
Location differences? |
N |
N |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
Treatment decisions? |
N |
N |
N |
P |
P |
P |
N |
N |
N |
P |
na |
na |
Participants' preferences? |
N |
N |
N |
P |
P |
P |
N |
N |
N |
P |
na |
na |
On the basis of outcome? |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
P |
na |
na |
Some other process? (specify) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Which parts of the study were prospective: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Identification of participants? |
Y |
Y |
Y |
P |
Y |
N |
P* |
Y |
N |
N |
P |
P |
Assessment of baseline and allocation to intervention? |
Y |
Y |
Y |
P |
Y |
N |
P* |
Y |
N |
N |
na |
na |
Assessment of outcomes? |
Y |
Y |
Y |
P |
Y |
P |
P |
Y |
N |
N |
P |
P |
Generation of hypotheses? |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
P |
P |
P |
na |
On what variables was comparability between groups assessed: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potential confounders? |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
N |
na |
Baseline assessment of outcome variables? |
P |
P |
P |
Y |
P |
P |
P |
N |
N |
N |
N |
na |
Y=Yes; P=Possibly; P*=Possible for one group only; N=No; na=not applicable. NB:. Note that ‘possibly’ is used in the table to indicate cells where either ‘Y’ or ‘N’ may be the case. It should not be used as a response option when applying the checklist; if uncertain, the response should be ‘can’t tell’ (see Box 13.4.a).
RCT=Randomized controlled trial; Q-RCT=Quasi-randomized controlled trial; NRCT=Non-randomized controlled trial; CBA=Controlled before-and-after study; PCS=Prospective cohort study; RCS=Retrospective cohort study; HCT=Historically controlled trial; NCC=Nested case-control study; CC=Case-control study; XS=Cross-sectional study; BA=Before-and-after comparison; CR/CS=Case report/Case series.