Table 2:
Risk-of-bias assessment of studies included in the systematic review
| Cluster RCT | Adequate randomization | Allocation concealment | Blinding of patients | Blinding of practitioners | Blinding of outcome assessor s | Complete outcome data reported* | Incomplete outcome data addressed | Free of selective outcome reporting | Baseline group similarity | Reliable primary outcome measures | Control group unlikely to receive intervention | Free of other bias |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eccles et al.7 | Y | Y | NA | N | Y | Y | NA | Y | N | U | Y | Y |
| Dey et al.19 | Y | Y | NA | N | Y | U | U | U | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| French et al.18 | Y | Y | NA | N | Y | N | Y | Y | N | U | Y | Y |
| Kerry et al.21 | Y | Y | NA | N | Y | U | U | Y | U | N | Y | Y |
| Schectman et al.20 | Y | Y | NA | N | Y | Y | NA | U | N | Y | Y | N |
| Interrupted time series | Blinding of outcome assessors | Intervention independent to other changes over time | Same data collection sources/methods before and after intervention | Rationale given for no. of data collection points | Complete data collection reported* | Incomplete data collection addressed | Free of selective outcome reporting | Data analyzed appropriately | Shape of intervention effect specified | Reliable primary outcome measures | Free of other bias | |
| Matowe et al.17 | Y | U | Y | N | Y | NA | Y | Y | Y | N | N | |
| Baker et al.24 | Y | U | Y | N | U | U | U | N | N | N | Y | |
Note: N = no, NA = not applicable, RCT = randomized controlled trial, U = uncertain, Y = yes.
*
Outcome measures obtained for more than 80% of participants (medical practitioners).