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. 2012 Oct 17;2012(10):CD001321. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001321.pub5

Cowan 2012.

Methods
  • Study design: parallel design

  • Power calculation: provided, assumed 20% reduction in bladder problems

  • Intention‐to‐treat analysis: yes

Participants Inclusion criteria
  • Setting: radiotherapy booking system used to identify patients, patients had cervical cancer or bladder cancer at 1 centre

  • Country: UK

  • Adults > 18 years with cervical or bladder cancer requiring radiation therapy

  • Number: 128 randomised; 113 analysed (7 in placebo arm, 8 in cranberry arm)


Exclusion criteria: NS
Interventions Treatment group
  • Cranberry juice twice/d; volume (NS); PAC (NS)


Control group
  • Matched placebo juice twice/d; volume (NS)

Outcomes
  • Urinary symptoms

Notes
  • Exclusions post randomisation: 0

Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias) Low risk Computer based deterministic minimisation algorithm, externally allocated
Allocation concealment (selection bias) Low risk Computer algorithm generated a blinded juice pack
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) 
 All outcomes Low risk Double blinding stated, patients blinded to treatment arm, clinicians blinded
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) 
 All outcomes Unclear risk For UTI outcome probably low risk, microbiology results independent
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) 
 All outcomes Low risk Very little missing data
Selective reporting (reporting bias) Low risk Urinary symptoms and UTI
Other bias Low risk Source of funding: west Research Endowment fund, NHS greater Glasgow and Clyde, Juice and placebo supplied by Ocean Spray