Reported problems and responses during the conduct of stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials in healthcare settings: a qualitative systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial (SW-CRT) is a pragmatic complex design that can be difficult to implement. We aimed to summarize the reported problems and responses to problems in studies recently published after the publication of the reporting guidelines for SW-CRTs.

Methods

We searched the literature for SW-CRTs published between 9 November 2018 and 23 February 2021 to identify reported SW-CRT-related problems (defined as relating to the components of the design, i.e. involving clusters and the staggered intervention implementation) and responses to problems. We carried out a thematic analysis to derive descriptive themes and overarching analytical themes.

Results

Among 84 included SW-CRTs, 62 (74%) reported 107 problems related to the SW-CRT

SUBMITTER: Taylor KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12758014 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature