Sharami 2005.

Study characteristics
Methods	Randomised trial: computer‐generated random number table, blocks of 4, sequentially‐numbered opaque sealed envelopes.
Participants	Nulliparous women, admitted for induction, between 34 and 42 weeks GA, singleton in cephalic presentation, BS < 4, intact membranes, reassuring FHR tracing, < 6 contractions per hour Exclusion: significant vaginal bleeding, fetal chorioamnionitis, any contraindication to vaginal delivery, previous uterine scar, FHR abnormalities, severe pre‐eclampsia, contraindication to PG.
Interventions	Foley 30 mL + EASI + concurrent IV oxytocin for 12 hours (n = 76). PGE2 gel 0.5 mg intracervical 6‐hourly, max 3 doses (n = 75).
Outcomes	Interval from start induction to active phase, abnormal FHR tracing, tachysystole, hyperstimulation, meconium passage, caesarean delivery, chorioamnionitis, endometritis, AS < 7, admission NICU Secondary: start induction to delivery, change in dilation at 1, 6, 12 hours, CS for failed induction.
Notes	No sample size calculation. Prophylactic antibiotics after 12 hours of start induction Setting: Prenatal Clinic in Al‐Zahra Maternity Hospital, Iran Dates of study: March 2002 ‐ September 2003 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)	Low risk	Sequentially‐numbered opaque sealed envelopes.
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	Good description of excluded patients, quite evenly spread over the groups. There is no information about missing/incomplete outcome data.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	It seems that all outcomes prespecified in methods were reported, report includes all expected outcomes.
Other bias	Low risk	No other bias detected