The balanced incomplete block design is not suitable for the evaluation of complex interventions

Abstract

Objectives: In quality of care research, the balanced incomplete block (BIB) design is regularly claimed to have been used when evaluating complex interventions. In this article, we reflect on the appropriateness of using this design for evaluating complex interventions.

Study design and setting: Literature study using PubMed and handbooks.

Results: After studying various articles on health services research that claim to have applied the BIB and the original methodological literature on this design, it became clear that the applied method is in fact not a BIB design.

Conclusion: We conclude that the use of this design is not suited for evaluating complex interventions. We stress that, to prevent improper use of terms, more attention should be paid to proper referencing of the original methodological literature.

Keywords: Epidemiologic research design; Evaluation studies; Health care evaluation mechanisms; Primary care; Quality of health care; Research methodology.