| Methods |
RCT. Randomisation, allocation concealment and blinding of participants and investigators (including outcome assessors) not reported. |
| Participants |
98 patients (age, gender distribution, %TBSA not provided) with partial thickness burns presenting to an emergency department and seen within 48 hours of injury. Patients with injuries greater than 48 hours old, requiring management other than outpatient treatment such as skin grafting were excluded. |
| Interventions |
Hydrocolloid dressing (Granuflex, ConvaTec Ltd, UK) versus chlorhexidine‐impregnated paraffin gauze (Bactigras, Smith and Nephew Healthcare Limited) |
| Outcomes |
Time to wound healing
Level of pain
Number of dressing changes
Incidence of infection
Quality of healing was measured using a 5‐point scale |
| Notes |
|
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Patients randomly allocated but method not described |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not reported |
| Blinding (performance bias and detection bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Trial described as "open" and care protocols different. No blinding of either patients or investigators who both assessed outcomes. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Large dropout from trial or withdrawn because of adverse events 31/98 (32%), leaving 67 evaluable patients |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Unclear risk |
Baseline data reported incompletely |
| Other bias |
Unclear risk |
(1) Authors reported that there were no differences between groups at baseline, but data not displayed; (2) study supported by a company making dressings (ConvaTec) and no assurance given that funding had no influence on the results |
