Table 2 Quality assessment of randomized controlled trials of progesterone for maintenance tocolysis
Study | Randomization/Allocation concealment method | Blinding | Compliance with treatment | Post Randomization Exclusions | Intention to Treat analysis | Quality | Included in meta-analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Areia | “no allocation concealment” | No | None discontinued treatment | No | Yes | Low | Yes |
Borna | Random number list, no allocation concealment | No | Unclear | No | Yes | Low | Yes |
Choudhary | Computer generated list, “randomly allocated by third party” | Yes | Unclear | Yes, 2 in progesterone group, 3 in placebo group | Yes | Low | Yes |
Facchinetti | Computer generated list, “managed by the senior midwife” | No | “Patients were compliant” | No | Yes | Low | Yes |
Kamat | Computer generated random number table. Unclear allocation concealment | No | Unclear | Yes, 4 in progesterone group 6 in control. | Yes | Low | Yes |
Lotfalizadeh | No information provided. | No | Unclear | ? | ? | Low | Yes |
Noblot | Randomized schedule prepared by pharmacy | Yes | Unclear | None | Yes | High | Yes |
Palacio | Centralized computer randomization | Yes | Unclear | Yes 6 in progesterone group. | Yes | High | Yes |
Rozenberg | Centralized computer randomization. | No | Yes, 1 in progesterone group and 4 in control. | Yes | Low | Yes | |
Sharami | “randomized into two groups using the random block allocation method” | Yes | Unclear | Yes, 6 in progesterone group, 4 in placebo | Yes | Low | Yes |
de Tejada | Centralized computer randomization. | Yes | 4 in progesterone and 5 in placebo groups stopped medication. Overall 58% compliance | Yes 4 in progesterone group, 2 in placebo. | Yes | High | Yes |
Briery | Sequentially numbered sealed opaque envelopes | Yes | Unclear | None | Yes | High | Yes |
Gargari | Unclear | No | Unclear | Yes, 38 subjects | ? | Low | Yes |
Wood | Pharmacy randomization with schedule concealed from clinicians. | Yes | Unclear | None | Yes | High | Yes |