| Methods |
Trial conducted in New Zealand, July 1997‐June 1998; trial stopped early. |
| Participants |
55 women undergoing second trimester termination of a live fetus. |
| Interventions |
Women randomised to vaginal misoprostol (400 mcg followed by 200 mcg 2 hours later, followed by 200 mcg at 4‐hourly intervals) or oral misoprostol (400 mcg followed by 200 mcg 2 hours later, followed by 200 mcg at 4‐hourly intervals). |
| Outcomes |
Vaginal birth not achieved within 24 hours; induction to birth interval; surgical evacuation of the uterus. |
| Notes |
Method of randomisation: random number table generated by coin toss.
Allocation concealment: not stated.
Blinding of participants, caregivers or outcome assessors: no. |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Random number table generated by coin toss. |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not stated. |
| Blinding (performance bias and detection bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Not stated. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
|
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Low risk |
|
| Other bias |
Unclear risk |
Trial stopped early. |
