A scoping review of the problems and solutions associated with contamination in trials of complex interventions in mental health.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In a randomised controlled trial, contamination is defined as the receipt of active intervention amongst participants in the control arm. This review assessed the processes leading to contamination, its typical quantity, methods used to mitigate it, and impact of use of cluster randomisation to prevent it on study findings in trials of complex interventions in mental health.

Methods

This is a scoping review of trial design approaches and methods of study conduct to address contamination. Studies included were randomised controlled trials of complex interventions in mental health that described the process leading to, amount of, or solution used to counter contamination. The Medline, Embase, and PsycInfo databases were searched for trials published between 2000 and

SUBMITTER: Magill N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6323722 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature