Use of scratchcards for allocation concealment in a prehospital randomised controlled trial

Evans, Bridie; Keen, Leigh; Bulger, Jenna Katherine; Rees, Nigel; Snooks, Helen; Fegan, Greg; Ford, Simon; Evans, Bridie Angela; Longo, Mirella

doi:10.1136/emermed-2018-207881

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Use of scratchcards for allocation concealment in a prehospital randomised controlled trial

Bridie Evans

, Leigh Keen, Jenna Katherine Bulger, Nigel Rees, Helen Snooks

, Greg Fegan, Simon Ford, Bridie Angela Evans, Mirella Longo

Emergency Medicine Journal, Volume: 35, Issue: 11, Start page: emermed-2018-207881

Swansea University Authors: Bridie Evans , Helen Snooks , Greg Fegan

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DOI (Published version): 10.1136/emermed-2018-207881

Abstract

BackgroundRapid Analgesia for Prehospital Hip Disruption was a small study designed to determine the feasibility of undertaking a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test the clinical and cost-effectiveness of paramedics administering Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block as early prehospital pain relief...

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Published in:	Emergency Medicine Journal
ISSN:	1472-0205 1472-0213
Published:	2018
Online Access:	Check full text
URI:	https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa43854

first_indexed	2018-09-14T12:59:26Z
last_indexed	2023-01-11T14:20:38Z
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The objective was to devise a simple and effective method of random allocation concealment suitable for use by paramedics while in the emergency prehospital setting.MethodsScratchcards were produced using scratch-off silver stickers which concealed the trial arm allocation. Paramedics were each allocated a unique range of consecutive numbers, used as both the scratchcard number and the patient’s study ID. The cards were designed to allow the paramedic to write on the incident number, date and signature. A small envelope holding the cards was prepared for each paramedic. The study took place between 28 June 2016 and 31 July 2017 in the Swansea area.ResultsNineteen trial paramedics used 71 scratchcards throughout the study and reported no problems randomly allocating patients using the scratchcards. Five protocol deviations were reported in relation to scratchcard use. On auditing the scratchcards, all unused cards were located, and no evidence of tampering with the silver panel was found.ConclusionParamedics can use scratchcards as a method of randomly allocating patients in trials in prehospital care. In the future, a method that allows only the top card to be selected and a more protective method of storing the cards should be used. 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spelling	2022-12-05T15:39:23.3371979 v2 43854 2018-09-14 Use of scratchcards for allocation concealment in a prehospital randomised controlled trial 6098eddc58e31ac2f3e070cb839faa6a 0000-0003-0293-0888 Bridie Evans Bridie Evans true false ab23c5e0111b88427a155a1f495861d9 0000-0003-0173-8843 Helen Snooks Helen Snooks true false a9005418b89918776f3d8895ba42e850 Greg Fegan Greg Fegan true false 2018-09-14 MEDS BackgroundRapid Analgesia for Prehospital Hip Disruption was a small study designed to determine the feasibility of undertaking a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test the clinical and cost-effectiveness of paramedics administering Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block as early prehospital pain relief to patients with a fractured hip. The objective was to devise a simple and effective method of random allocation concealment suitable for use by paramedics while in the emergency prehospital setting.MethodsScratchcards were produced using scratch-off silver stickers which concealed the trial arm allocation. Paramedics were each allocated a unique range of consecutive numbers, used as both the scratchcard number and the patient’s study ID. The cards were designed to allow the paramedic to write on the incident number, date and signature. A small envelope holding the cards was prepared for each paramedic. The study took place between 28 June 2016 and 31 July 2017 in the Swansea area.ResultsNineteen trial paramedics used 71 scratchcards throughout the study and reported no problems randomly allocating patients using the scratchcards. Five protocol deviations were reported in relation to scratchcard use. On auditing the scratchcards, all unused cards were located, and no evidence of tampering with the silver panel was found.ConclusionParamedics can use scratchcards as a method of randomly allocating patients in trials in prehospital care. In the future, a method that allows only the top card to be selected and a more protective method of storing the cards should be used. Scratchcards can be considered for wider use in RCTs in the emergency prehospital setting. Journal Article Emergency Medicine Journal 35 11 emermed-2018-207881 1472-0205 1472-0213 30 11 2018 2018-11-30 10.1136/emermed-2018-207881 COLLEGE NANME Medical School COLLEGE CODE MEDS Swansea University 2022-12-05T15:39:23.3371979 2018-09-14T09:51:32.8672617 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Swansea University Medical School - Medicine Bridie Evans 0000-0003-0293-0888 1 Leigh Keen 2 Jenna Katherine Bulger 3 Nigel Rees 4 Helen Snooks 0000-0003-0173-8843 5 Greg Fegan 6 Simon Ford 7 Bridie Angela Evans 8 Mirella Longo 9 0043854-02102018094514.pdf 43854.pdf 2018-10-02T09:45:14.3630000 Output 681122 application/pdf Version of Record true 2018-10-02T00:00:00.0000000 This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license true eng
title	Use of scratchcards for allocation concealment in a prehospital randomised controlled trial
spellingShingle	Use of scratchcards for allocation concealment in a prehospital randomised controlled trial Bridie Evans Helen Snooks Greg Fegan
title_short	Use of scratchcards for allocation concealment in a prehospital randomised controlled trial
title_full	Use of scratchcards for allocation concealment in a prehospital randomised controlled trial
title_fullStr	Use of scratchcards for allocation concealment in a prehospital randomised controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed	Use of scratchcards for allocation concealment in a prehospital randomised controlled trial
title_sort	Use of scratchcards for allocation concealment in a prehospital randomised controlled trial
author_id_str_mv	6098eddc58e31ac2f3e070cb839faa6a ab23c5e0111b88427a155a1f495861d9 a9005418b89918776f3d8895ba42e850
author_id_fullname_str_mv	6098eddc58e31ac2f3e070cb839faa6a_*_Bridie Evans ab23c5e0111b88427a155a1f495861d9__Helen Snooks a9005418b89918776f3d8895ba42e850_**_Greg Fegan
author	Bridie Evans Helen Snooks Greg Fegan
author2	Bridie Evans Leigh Keen Jenna Katherine Bulger Nigel Rees Helen Snooks Greg Fegan Simon Ford Bridie Angela Evans Mirella Longo
format	Journal article
container_title	Emergency Medicine Journal
container_volume	35
container_issue	11
container_start_page	emermed-2018-207881
publishDate	2018
institution	Swansea University
issn	1472-0205 1472-0213
doi_str_mv	10.1136/emermed-2018-207881
college_str	Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id	facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title	Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id	facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title	Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str	Swansea University Medical School - Medicine{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Swansea University Medical School - Medicine
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description	BackgroundRapid Analgesia for Prehospital Hip Disruption was a small study designed to determine the feasibility of undertaking a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test the clinical and cost-effectiveness of paramedics administering Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block as early prehospital pain relief to patients with a fractured hip. The objective was to devise a simple and effective method of random allocation concealment suitable for use by paramedics while in the emergency prehospital setting.MethodsScratchcards were produced using scratch-off silver stickers which concealed the trial arm allocation. Paramedics were each allocated a unique range of consecutive numbers, used as both the scratchcard number and the patient’s study ID. The cards were designed to allow the paramedic to write on the incident number, date and signature. A small envelope holding the cards was prepared for each paramedic. The study took place between 28 June 2016 and 31 July 2017 in the Swansea area.ResultsNineteen trial paramedics used 71 scratchcards throughout the study and reported no problems randomly allocating patients using the scratchcards. Five protocol deviations were reported in relation to scratchcard use. On auditing the scratchcards, all unused cards were located, and no evidence of tampering with the silver panel was found.ConclusionParamedics can use scratchcards as a method of randomly allocating patients in trials in prehospital care. In the future, a method that allows only the top card to be selected and a more protective method of storing the cards should be used. Scratchcards can be considered for wider use in RCTs in the emergency prehospital setting.
published_date	2018-11-30T07:29:50Z
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score	11.047306

Use of scratchcards for allocation concealment in a prehospital randomised controlled trial

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