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Methodology Checklist 2: Randomised Controlled Trials
Study identification (Include author, title, year of publication, journal title, pages) |
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Guideline topic: |
Key Question No: |
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Before completing this checklist, consider:
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Reason for rejection: Reason for rejection: 1. Paper not relevant to key question □ 2. Other reason □ (please specify):
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Checklist completed by: |
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| Section 1: Internal validity | ||||||||
In a well conducted RCT study… |
In this study this criterion is: | |||||||
1.1 |
The study addresses an appropriate and clearly focused question. |
Well covered |
Not addressed |
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1.2 |
The assignment of subjects to treatment groups is randomised |
Well covered |
Not addressed |
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1.3 |
An adequate concealment method is used |
Well covered |
Not addressed |
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1.4 |
Subjects and investigators are kept ‘blind’ about treatment allocation |
Well covered |
Not addressed |
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1.5 |
The treatment and control groups are similar at the start of the trial |
Well covered |
Not addressed |
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1.6 |
The only difference between groups is the treatment under investigation |
Well covered |
Not addressed |
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1.7 |
All relevant outcomes are measured in a standard, valid and reliable way |
Well covered |
Not addressed |
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1.8 |
What percentage of the individuals or clusters recruited into each treatment arm of the study dropped out before the study was completed? |
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1.9 |
All the subjects are analysed in the groups to which they were randomly allocated (often referred to as intention to treat analysis) |
Well covered |
Not addressed |
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1.10 |
Where the study is carried out at more than one site, results are comparable for all sites |
Well covered |
Not addressed |
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Section 2: OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE STUDY |
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2.1 |
How well was the study done to minimise bias? Code ++, +, or - |
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2.2 |
Taking into account clinical considerations, your evaluation of the methodology used, and the statistical power of the study, are you certain that the overall effect is due to the study intervention? |
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2.3 |
Are the results of this study directly applicable to the patient group targeted by this guideline? |
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2.4 |
Notes. Summarise the authors conclusions. Add any comments on your own assessment of the study, and the extent to which it answers your question. |
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The following section is provided for non-SIGN users of this checklist and is being developed to conform to the standards set by the Guidelines International Network Evidence Tables Working Group. |
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Section 3: description OF THE STUDY |
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3.1 |
Do we know who the study was funded by? |
□ Academic Institution □ Healthcare Industry |
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3.2 |
How many centres are patients recruited from? |
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3.3 |
From which countries are patients selected? (Select all those involved. Note additional countries after “Other”) |
□ Scotland □ UK □ USA □ Canada |
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3.4 |
What is the social setting (ie type of environment in which they live) of patients in the study? |
□ Urban □ Rural □ Mixed |
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3.5 |
What criteria are used to decide who should be INCLUDED in the study? |
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3.6 |
What criteria are used to decide who should be EXCLUDED from the study? |
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3.7 |
What intervention or risk factor is investigated in the study? (Include dosage where appropriate) |
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3.8 |
What comparisons are made in the study (ie what alternative treatments are used to compare the intervention with). Include dosage where appropriate. |
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3.9 |
What methods were used to randomize patients, blind patients or investigators, and to conceal the randomization process from investigators? |
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3.10 |
How long did the active phase of the study last? |
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3.11 |
How long were patients followed-up for, during and after the study? |
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3.12 |
List the key characteristics of the patient population. Note if there are any significant differences between different arms of the trial. |
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3.13 |
Record the basic data for each arm of the study. If there are more than four arms, note data for subsequent arms at the bottom of the page. |
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Arm 1: |
Arm 2: |
Arm 3: |
Arm 4: |
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3.14 |
Record the basic data for each IMPORTANT outcome in the study. If there are more than four, not data for additional outcomes at the bottom of the page. |
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Outcome 1: |
Outcome 2: |
Outcome 3: |
Outcome 4: |
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3.15 |
Notes. Summarise the authors conclusions. Add any comments on your own assessment of the study, and the extent to which it answers your question. {Much of this is likely to be contributed by GDG members). |
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