Harvey 1976.

Methods	Setting: USA, hospital outpatient clinic Length of intervention period: 12 weeks Randomisation: yes method not stated Allocation concealment: unclear Design: parallel group Masking: double blind Excluded: not stated Withdrawals: stated Baseline characteristics: comparable Jadad score: 4
Participants	34 adolescents/adults: 11M 23F Age range: 14 to 75 years Inclusion criteria: Asthmatic patients dependent on oral steroids for at least 6 months, not exceeding 20mg per day. Exclusion criteria: Pregnancy Concurrent severe disease
Interventions	BDP: 50mcg 2 pfs 4xdaily (400mcg/d) Placebo: 2 pfs 4xdaily Delivery device: MDI
Outcomes	% change in FEV1 % change in FEF 50 Daily oral prednisolone dose 8am plasma cortisol Discontinuation of oral steroids (number of patients)
Notes	No reply from author to clarify details of randomisation method.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Unclear risk	B ‐ Unclear