Study	Reason for exclusion
Chanrachakul 2003	Trial comparing expectant management with immediate induction of labour. The women in the induction group were sent to labour ward for induction by artificial rupture of membranes or oxytocin, or both.
Secher 1981	Randomised trial of oral prostaglandin E2 vs intravenous oxytocin. Prior to randomisation, amniotomy was performed if the cervix was favourable (subjective decision by attending clinician). The group who did not have primary amniotomy were immediately randomised. The group who had primary amniotomy were left for four hours following which, if labour had not ensued, they were randomised to prostaglandin or oxytocin. Therefore, they were not randomised in terms of amniotomy alone (pragmatic allocation) and hence excluded from this review. This study will be considered in the amniotomy and oxytocin, and the oral prostaglandin reviews.
Sivasuriya 1978	This study was undertaken to evaluate the association between neonatal jaundice and three methods of induction of labour (amniotomy alone; amniotomy and oxytocin infusion; and amniotomy and oral prostaglandins) compared with spontaneous labour. None of the pre‐specified primary outcomes for this review were reported.
Thornton 1989	This study was undertaken to determine oxytocin concentration in women undergoing amniotomy for induction of labour at term. None of the pre‐specified primary outcomes for this review were reported.
Ward 1991	Conference abstract. In this study, women were randomly allocated to one of three groups: prostaglandin gel; amniotomy alone, and amniotomy with oxytocin infusion. No primary outcomes relevant to this review reported. The authors comment on the potential advantages of prostaglandin in reducing the need for intravenous oxytocin and thus allowing women to mobilise more readily in early labour. These potential advantages in terms of consumer satisfaction were not evaluated formally, but merely speculated upon.
Westergaard 1983	Randomised trial of oral prostaglandin E2 vs buccal oxytocin. Prior to randomisation, primary amniotomy was performed if the cervix was favourable (subjective decision by attending clinician). The group who did not have primary amniotomy was immediately randomised. The group who had primary amniotomy was left for four hours following which, if labour had not ensued. the participants were randomised to prostaglandin or oxytocin. Therefore, they were not randomised in terms of amniotomy alone (pragmatic allocation) and hence excluded from this review. This study will be considered in the amniotomy and oxytocin, and the oral prostaglandin reviews.

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