Rogers 1974.

Methods	RCT.
Participants	Setting ‐ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Madigan Army Centre, Tacoma, Washington, USA. 600 women randomised. Inclusion criteria ‐ women who had a median and medio‐lateral episiotomies (episiotomies with lacerations also included). Exclusion criteria ‐ not documented. Method of delivery ‐ not clear, defined as complicated or not complicated. Parity ‐ not specified. Mean age ‐ intervention group = 23.45; comparison group = 22.81. Operators ‐ not specified.
Interventions	Method of repair ‐ not described. Intervention group (n = 301) sutured with chromic catgut (gauge 3‐0), needle size not specified. Comparison group (n = 299) sutured with polyglycolic acid (Dexon) (gauge 3‐0), needle size not specified.
Outcomes	Short‐term pain ‐ period of time not specified. Pain in relation to type of episiotomy. Wound healing at 6 weeks' postpartum (unsure how this was assessed/followed up).
Notes	Period of follow up not specified.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Adequate sequence generation?	Unclear risk	Allocated using 'random technique'.
Allocation concealment?	Unclear risk	Suture packs were inside sealed plain envelopes.
Blinding? Women	Unclear risk	Not documented.
Blinding? Clinical staff	Unclear risk	Not documented, however, this would be difficult due to differences in suture materials.
Blinding? Outcome assessors	Unclear risk	Not documented, however, this would be difficult due to differences in suture materials.
Incomplete outcome data addressed? All outcomes	Low risk	All participants entered into the trial were included in the analysis.
Free of other bias?	Low risk	No baseline imbalance apparent.