OBJECTIVE: To describe the application of the stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) design. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review. We searched Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, HMIC, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Knowledge, and Current Controlled Trials Register for articles published up to January 2010. Stepped wedge CRCTs from all fields of research were included. Two authors independently reviewed and extracted data from the studies. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies were included in the review. Motivations for using the design included ethical, logistical, financial, social, and political acceptability and methodological reasons. Most studies were evaluating an intervention during routine implementation. For most of the included studies, there was also a belief or empirical evidence suggesting that the intervention would do more good than harm. There was variation in data analysis methods and insufficient quality of reporting. CONCLUSIONS: The stepped wedge CRCT design has been mainly used for evaluating interventions during routine implementation, particularly for interventions that have been shown to be effective in more controlled research settings, or where there is lack of evidence of effectiveness but there is a strong belief that they will do more good than harm. There is need for consistent data analysis and reporting.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the application of the stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) design. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review. We searched Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, HMIC, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Knowledge, and Current Controlled Trials Register for articles published up to January 2010. Stepped wedge CRCTs from all fields of research were included. Two authors independently reviewed and extracted data from the studies. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies were included in the review. Motivations for using the design included ethical, logistical, financial, social, and political acceptability and methodological reasons. Most studies were evaluating an intervention during routine implementation. For most of the included studies, there was also a belief or empirical evidence suggesting that the intervention would do more good than harm. There was variation in data analysis methods and insufficient quality of reporting. CONCLUSIONS: The stepped wedge CRCT design has been mainly used for evaluating interventions during routine implementation, particularly for interventions that have been shown to be effective in more controlled research settings, or where there is lack of evidence of effectiveness but there is a strong belief that they will do more good than harm. There is need for consistent data analysis and reporting.
Authors: Bryan C Wallace; Larry A Allen; Christopher E Knoepke; Russell E Glasgow; Carmen L Lewis; Diane L Fairclough; Laura J Helmkamp; Monica D Fitzgerald; Wendy S Tzou; Daniel B Kramer; Paul D Varosy; Sanjaya K Gupta; John M Mandrola; Scott C Brancato; Pamela N Peterson; Daniel D Matlock Journal: Am Heart J Date: 2020-04-20 Impact factor: 4.749
Authors: Jamie H Thompson; Melinda M Davis; Michael C Leo; Jennifer L Schneider; David H Smith; Amanda F Petrik; Melissa Castillo; Brittany Younger; Gloria D Coronado Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2018-02-09 Impact factor: 2.226
Authors: Shobha Srinivasan; Richard P Moser; Gordon Willis; William Riley; Mark Alexander; David Berrigan; Sarah Kobrin Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2015-04-23 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Austin B Frakt; Julia C Prentice; Steven D Pizer; A Rani Elwy; Melissa M Garrido; Amy M Kilbourne; David Atkins Journal: Health Serv Res Date: 2018-06-03 Impact factor: 3.402