Checklist for randomization
This checklist has been contributed by Dave Sackett, who prepared it
for the forthcoming 3rd edition of Clinical Epidemiology; A Basic
Science for Answering Questions about Health Care, to be published by
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins in 2005.
- Make it easy for collaborating clinicians – they are busy people.
- Be realistic and practical (no good planning telephone
randomisation if participating centres have no reliable access to phone
systems).
- Make sure you consider: where participants will be recruited; who
will randomize the participants; when randomisation will take place.
- Develop the most appropriate randomisation systems for the
project (consider the options below) central/local; phone/fax/email;
treatment box; envelopes.
- Ensure that participant details are recorded before treatment
allocation is made.
- Ensure that the treatment allocation is adequately concealed.
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This document was last updated on 26th October 2004.