A Practical Guide to Cluster Randomised Trials in Health Services Research: Eldridge/A Practical Guide to Cluster Randomised Trials in Health Services Research

Cluster randomisedtrials are trials in which groups (or clusters) of individuals are randomly allocated to different forms of treatment. In health care, these trials often compare different ways of managing a disease or promoting healthy living, in contrast to conventional randomised trials which randomise individuals to different treatments, classically comparing new drugs with a placebo. They are increasingly common in health services research. This book addresses the statistical, practical, and ethical issues arising from allocating groups of individuals, or clusters, to different interventions. Key features: Guides readers through the stages of conducting a trial, from recruitment to reporting. Presents a wide range of examples with particular emphasis on trials in health services research and primary care, with both principles and techniques explained. Topics are specifically presented in the order in which investigators think about issues when they are designing a trial. Combines information on the latest developments in the field together with a practical guide to the design and implementation of cluster randomised trials. Explains principles and techniques through numerous examples including many from the authors own experience. Includes a wide range of references for those who wish to read further. This book is intended as a practical guide, written for researchers from the health professions including doctors, psychologists, and allied health professionals, as well as statisticians involved in the design, execution, analysis and reporting of cluster randomised trials. Those with a more general interest will find the plentiful examples illuminating. Content: Chapter 1 Introduction (pages 1–21): Chapter 2 Recruitment and Ethics (pages 22–43): Chapter 3 Designing Interventions (pages 44–59): Chapter 4 Pilot and Feasibility Studies (pages 60–73): Chapter 5 Design (pages 74–98): Chapter 6 Analysis (pages 99–136): Chapter 7 Sample Size Calculations (pages 137–171): Chapter 8 The Intra?Cluster Correlation Coefficient (pages 172–195): Chapter 9 Other Topics (pages 196–217): Chapter 10 Trial Reporting (pages 218–265): There Is Relatively Little Literature On Cluster Randomized Trials, With Only Two Previous Books On The Subject, Both Now Quite Old, And Neither Were Focused On The Practical Aspects Of The Trials. This Book Provides That Much Needed Practical Guide To The Design, Execution And Analysis Of Cluster Randomized Trials In Health Services Research. It Also Provides An Overview Of The Topic's Numerous Recent Developments Since The 2000 Publication Of The Last Book In This Area.the Opening Chapter Defines And Introduces Cluster Randomized Trials, Before Going On To Present An Overview Of The Subject's History And Recent Developments. The Following Chapters Focus On All The Major Issues Presented In The Order In Which Investigators Think About Issues When They Are Designing A Trial. The Chapters Focus On: Trial Quality, Reporting, How To Design An Intervention, How To Ensure The Validity Of Results, How To Choose Both The Design And The Analysis Of The Trial, Sample Size Calculations, Choosing An Intra-cluster Correlation Coefficient, The Uses Of Piloting, How To Conduct A Cost-effectiveness Analysis, And How These Trials Should Be Synthesized.the Book Also Contains Numerous Tables, Graphs And Diagrams And A Substantial Number Of Recent Trials--provided By Publisher. This Book Aims To Provide That Much Needed Practical Guide To The Design, Execution And Analysis Of Cluster Randomized Trials In Health Services Research--provided By Publisher. Machine Generated Contents Note: Foreword (to Follow)preface (to Follow)nomenclature/notationtable Of Caseschapter 1 -- Introduction1.1 Introduction To Randomised Trials1.2 Explanatory Or Pragmatic Trials1.3 How Does A Cluster Randomised Trial Differ From Other Trials? 1.3.1 Recruitment, Randomisation And Consent1.3.2 Definition Of Cluster Size1.3.3 Analysis And Sample Size1.3.4 Interventions Used In Cluster Randomised Trials1.4 Between Cluster Variability1.4.1 Factors That Contribute To Between Cluster Variability1.4.2 Measuring Between Cluster Variability1.5 Why Carry Out Cluster Randomised Trials?1.5.1 The Intervention Necessarily Acts At The Cluster Level1.5.2 Practical And/or Ethical Difficulties In Randomising At Cluster Level1.5.3 Contamination At Health Professional Level1.5.4 Contamination Between Members Of A Cluster1.5.5 Cost Or Administrative Convenience1.5.6 Ensuring Intervention Sandra Eldridge, Sally Kerry. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cluster randomised trials are trials in which groups (or clusters) of individuals are randomly allocated to different forms of treatment. In health care, these trials often compare different ways of managing a disease or promoting healthy living, in contrast to conventional randomised trials which randomise individuals to different treatments, classically comparing new drugs with a placebo. They are increasingly common in health services research. This book addresses the statistical, practical, and ethical issues arising from allocating groups of individuals, or clusters, to different interventions. Key features: Guides readers through the stages of conducting a trial, from recruitment to reporting. Presents a wide range of examples with particular emphasis on trials in health services research and primary care, with both principles and techniques explained. Topics are specifically presented in the order in which investigators think about issues when they are designing a trial. Combines information on the latest developments in the field together with a practical guide to the design and implementation of cluster randomised trials. Explains principles and techniques through numerous examples including many from the authors own experience. Includes a wide range of references for those who wish to read further. This book is intended as a practical guide, written for researchers from the health professions including doctors, psychologists, and allied health professionals, as well as statisticians involved in the design, execution, analysis and reporting of cluster randomised trials. Those with a more general interest will find the plentiful examples illuminating. "There is relatively little literature on cluster randomized trials, with only two previous books on the subject, both now quite old, and neither were focused on the practical aspects of the trials. This book provides that much needed practical guide to the design, execution and analysis of cluster randomized trials in health services research. It also provides an overview of the topic's numerous recent developments since the 2000 publication of the last book in this area. The opening chapter defines and introduces cluster randomized trials, before going on to present an overview of the subject's history and recent developments. The following chapters focus on all the major issues presented in the order in which investigators think about issues when they are designing a trial. The chapters focus on: trial quality, reporting, how to design an intervention, how to ensure the validity of results, how to choose both the design and the analysis of the trial, sample size calculations, choosing an intra-cluster correlation coefficient, the uses of piloting, how to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis, and how these trials should be synthesized. The book also contains numerous tables, graphs and diagrams and a substantial number of recent trials"--Provided by publisher