Cockayne 2005.
Study characteristics | ||
Methods | Parallel RCT, clusters randomised | |
Data | UK, community setting. Participants who were due to be sent a final follow‐up questionnaire as part of the host trial. Total n = 1038; mean age 76.4 (SD 4.6); 100% females. |
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Comparisons |
Intervention group participants were offered the results of the trial in a postal questionnaire. Control group participants did not receive the offer of knowing the results of the trial. |
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Outcomes | Return of final follow‐up questionnaire. | |
Notes | Retention period: Three weeks. Those participants nor returning questionnaires within three weeks were sent up to two reminder letters, questionnaires and business reply envelopes, three and six weeks after the initial mailing. | |
Risk of bias | ||
Item | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
Allocation concealment? | Unclear | Not reported in the paper. |
Adequate sequence generation? | Yes | An independent researcher from the York Trials Unit randomised eligible women in a 3:1 ratio in favour of offering the results of the trial, by computer |
Blinding of participants and personnel? | Yes | Not clear if participants were blinded to effect of embedded trial intervention on retention but unblinding not likely to impact objective outcome. |
Blinding of outcome assessment? | Yes | Statistical analysis was not undertaken blind to group allocation. However, objective outcome, participants blind (did not know there is a study) staff have no plausible additional opportunity to influence postal response rate once questionnaires sent. |
Incomplete outcome data addressed? All outcomes | Yes | No concerns raised. |
Free of selective outcome reporting? | Yes | No concerns raised. |
Other sources of bias | Yes | No further concerns raised. |
Overall Risk of Bias | Unclear | Unclear |