posted on 2019-08-12, 15:25authored byK Hemming, M Taljaard, JE McKenzie, R Hooper, A Copas, JA Thompson, M Dixon-Woods, A Aldcroft, A Doussau, M Grayling, C Kristunas, CE Goldstein, MK Campbell, A Girling, S Eldridge, MJ Campbell, RJ Lilford, C Weijer, AB Forbes, JM Grimshaw
This report presents the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) extension for the stepped wedge cluster randomised trial (SW-CRT). The SW-CRT involves randomisation of clusters to different sequences that dictate the order (or timing) at which each cluster will switch to the intervention condition. The statement was developed to allow for the unique characteristics of this increasingly used study design. The guideline was developed using a Delphi survey and consensus meeting; and is informed by the CONSORT statements for individual and cluster randomised trials. Reporting items along with explanations and examples are provided. We include a glossary of terms, and explore the key properties of the SW-CRT which require special consideration in their reporting.
Funding
This research was funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) project grant (1108283) and also partly funded by the UK NIHR Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West Midlands initiative. MDW is funded by a Welcome Trust Senior Investigator award WT097899. JAT is funded by the Medical Research Council Network of Hubs for Trials Methodology Research (MR/L004933/1-P27). JMG holds a Canada Research Chair in Health Knowledge Transfer and Uptake. CW holds a Canada Research Chair. JEM holds an NHMRC Australian Public Health Fellowship (1072366). KH holds an NIHR Senior Research Fellowship (SRF-2017-002).
History
Citation
BMJ, 2018;363:k1614
Author affiliation
/Organisation/COLLEGE OF LIFE SCIENCES/School of Medicine/Department of Health Sciences
Online at version of record, see DOI: Supplementary materials: Supplementary figures
S1, S2, and S3
Supplementary materials: Supplementary table S1,
S2, and S3