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Block design allowed for control of the Hawthorne effect in a randomized controlled trial of test ordering
- Source :
-
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology . Nov2004, Vol. 57 Issue 11, p1119-1123. 5p. - Publication Year :
- 2004
-
Abstract
- Abstract: Background and Objective: To evaluate the value of balanced incomplete block designs in quality improvement research, and their capacity to control for the Hawthorne effect. Methods: General practitioners teams were randomized into three arms and received an intervention on test ordering, relating to tests for two groups of clinical problems (A tests and B tests). In the two trials within the block design, we tried to control for the Hawthorne effect by comparing the complete intervention in both arms on either the A (arm I) or B tests (arm II); the arms acted as blind controls for each other. In the classical trial, the complete intervention on B tests (arm II) was compared with a control arm without any intervention on B tests (arm III). Results: The trials with the block design yielded statistically significant changes in the numbers of A tests ordered (P=.013), but not in the numbers of B tests ordered (P=.29). In the classical design, the complete intervention reached a marginally significant change in the B tests (P=.068). The Hawthorne effect was the same for both arms of the block design. In the classical design, the effect could to some extent be attributed to the Hawthorne effect. Conclusion: Our block design allowed us to control for the Hawthorne effect. Suitable use of block designs may further our knowledge of nonspecific effects in quality improvement research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 08954356
- Volume :
- 57
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 15553017
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2004.03.009