Mazhar 2003.

Study characteristics
Methods	RCT randomisation: computer‐generated random numbers, concealed.
Participants	Inclusion: singleton pregnancy, cephalic presentation, reassuring fetal status, GA 37 completed weeks, BS 6 or lower. Exclusion: placenta praevia, chorioamnionitis, polyhydramnios, parity > 5, SROM, previous CS, contraindication to labour induction.
Interventions	(PGE2) vaginal pessary max 2 x 6 hours (dose not mentioned) followed by ARM and oxytocin infusion (n = 100). Foley catheter 45 mL + EASI for 12 hours followed by ARM and oxytocin infusion (n = 100).
Outcomes	Primary: time from insertion to delivery, mode of delivery. secondary: change is BS after 6 hours, neonatal AS.
Notes	No sample size calculation. 4 patients were excluded (1 left against medical advice, 1 had SROM, 2 failed inductions were induced at later stage). Setting: Pakistan Dates of study: October 2000 to December 2001 Funding sources: not reported Declarations of interest: not reported
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Computer‐generated sequence.
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Randomised numbers concealed in the delivery suite?
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Not feasible due to nature of intervention
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Not reported
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	No mention of incomplete data, however unlikely due to nature of outcome measures.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	All pre‐specified outcomes reported.
Other bias	Low risk	No other bias detected