Sinkin 2000.

Study characteristics
Methods	Multi‐centre randomised double‐blind trial
Participants	384 infants at < 30 weeks' gestation with RDS by clinical and radiographic signs, needing IPPV at 12 to 18 hours of age; had received at least 1 dose of surfactant
Interventions	Dexamethasone 0.5 mg/kg at 12 to 18 hours of age, second dose 12 hours later Control group given an equal volume of placebo
Outcomes	Primary outcomes Survival Survival without oxygen at 28 days or 36 weeks Survival without oxygen at 28 days or 36 weeks and without late corticosteroids Length of time in oxygen, on ventilation, to regain birth weight, and in hospital Hyperglycaemia Hypertension IVH PDA Sepsis NEC Isolated GI perforation ROP Air leak Discharged home on oxygen
Notes	—
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Random allocation in the pharmacy via labelled syringes. Stratification by centre. Exact method of randomisation not stated
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Allocation concealment: yes
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Blinding of intervention: yes
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Blinding of outcome measurement: yes
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Complete follow‐up: yes
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	All prespecified outcomes reported
Other bias	Low risk	None