| Methods |
Random allocation derived from a table of numbers in blocks of 6; stratified by cervical status (opened or closed); code contained in opaque, sealed, sequentially numbered envelopes. |
| Participants |
Low‐risk women, at 38‐40 weeks (based on dates, or early ultrasound). |
| Interventions |
Sweeping of membranes or rubbing of the cervix if cervix was closed in the intervention group; cervical assessment by Bishop score only in controls. |
| Outcomes |
Spontaneous labour within one week, spontaneous labour before 41 weeks, overall spontaneous labour, mode of delivery, PROM, analgesia, maternal infection, Apgar score, neonatal infection. |
| Notes |
|
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment? |
Low risk |
A ‐ Adequate |
