| Methods |
Unclear how allocation sequence generated, but allocation sequence concealed using sealed, opaque envelopes. No blinding or power calculation. |
| Participants |
Australia. 26 pregnant women in preterm labour (defined as painful, regular contractions at < 5‐minute intervals) with singleton pregnancies between 24‐34 weeks' gestation with cervical dilation < 5 cm with intact or ruptured membranes. |
| Interventions |
(1) GTN patch 10 mg/24 hrs (n = 13).
(2) Intravenous albuterol at an initial rate of 25 micrograms/minute (n = 13). |
| Outcomes |
Birth within 24 hrs, birth within 7 days, birth at term, adverse drug reactions, plasma corticotrophin releasing hormone levels. |
| Notes |
Two participants changed from GTN group to albuterol because of persistent contractions. No information on whether women got steroids and/or antibiotic therapy. |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Unclear how allocation sequence generated. |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Allocation sequence concealed using sealed, opaque envelopes. |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
No blinding. |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
No blinding. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
All women randomised were included in the analysis. |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Unclear risk |
Assessment from published study report. |
| Other bias |
Low risk |
Baseline characteristics were described as similar. |
