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. 2000 Oct 23;2000(4):CD001481. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001481

Ward 1996.

Methods RCT (incomplete block design, randomised by provider) 
 Randomisation concealment: NOT CLEAR 
 Follow up: 
 ‐ providers: DONE 
 ‐ patients: N/A 
 Blinded assessment: NOT DONE 
 Baseline: NOT CLEAR 
 Reliable outcomes: NOT CLEAR 
 Protection against contamination: DONE
no unit of analysis error
Participants General practitioners in the Perth metropolitan region (Australia) who participated in a previous study (Kamien 1994). In that study 42% of the GPs approached (393 of 600 GPs in the district) finally recruited patients into the study; the next five consenting patients with type 2 diabetes that consulted the GP after he had completed a questionnaire. 
 Patients that were recruited in the previous study were also used in this study. (Type 2 diabetes). 
 139 of 160 providers asked to participate in this study, were included 
 providers‐ 139 
 patients ‐ 386 
 practices‐ ?
Interventions Intervention group: 
 Professional intervention (distribution of educational materials + educational outreach visits (interview by academic GP or nurse) + audit and feedback)
Control group: received recommended standard of Adequate Competent Care score and postal feedback
Length of intervention: 
 8 months
Outcomes PROCESS: 
 History recorded 
 Duration of known diabetes 
 Dietary inquiry and advice 
 Alcohol intake inquiry and advice 
 Exercise inquiry and advice 
 Smoking inquiry and advice 
 Impotence/vaginitis inquiry and advice
Annual physical examination 
 Blood pressure 
 Eye examination (or referral to ophthalmologist) 
 Body weight
Feet examined 
 ‐Pulses 
 ‐Sensation 
 ‐Nails 
 ‐Reflexes 
 HbA1 
 Blood glucose 
 Cholesterol 
 Triglyceride 
 Creatinine 
 Urinalysis 
 Glucose 
 Protein 
 Nitrite 
 Modified ACC score
PATIENT: 
 NONE
Notes A local recommended standard was formulated based on information obtained in a previous study
Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Allocation concealment? Unclear risk B ‐ Unclear