| Methods |
RCT |
| Participants |
Community volunteers from religious and community organisations
Mean age 72.5
Details of gender distribution not provided
N = 30. number randomised into each group not stated, we assume this is 10 in each group) |
| Interventions |
1. Walking accompanied by investigator for 20 minutes 3 times a week for 6 weeks
2. Social contact control group (visit by investigator for a "chat" avoiding any discussion of depression or health, twice a week)
3. Waiting list control group |
| Outcomes |
Beck Depression Inventory |
| Notes |
Outcome assessment not blind
All completed intervention so classified as intention‐to‐treat |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
No information |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
High risk |
Inadequate (as assessed by Lawlor and Hopker for BMJ review) |
| Blinding (performance bias and detection bias)
participants |
Unclear risk |
Participants not blind, but this on its own does not necessary imply bias |
| Blinding (performance bias and detection bias)
those delivering intervention |
Unclear risk |
Investigator delivering intervention was not blind |
| Blinding (performance bias and detection bias)
outcome assessors |
High risk |
Self report BDI |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
No drop‐outs |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Unclear risk |
All prespecified outcome measures were reported, but no protocol |
| Other bias |
Unclear risk |
Note Lawlor and Hopker categorised this study as "not intention‐to‐treat" |
