Rapid centralised randomisation in emergency setting trials using a smartphone

Shiraz Badurdeen; Kate A Hodgson; Georgia A Santomartino; Luke Stevens; Susan Donath; Calum T Roberts; Brett J Manley; Graeme R Polglase; Stuart B Hooper; Peter G Davis; Douglas A Blank

doi:10.1007/s00431-022-04475-y

Rapid centralised randomisation in emergency setting trials using a smartphone

Eur J Pediatr. 2022 Aug;181(8):3207-3210. doi: 10.1007/s00431-022-04475-y. Epub 2022 May 17.

Authors

Shiraz Badurdeen^{1

2}, Kate A Hodgson^{3

4}, Georgia A Santomartino¹, Luke Stevens⁵, Susan Donath⁵, Calum T Roberts^{2

6

7}, Brett J Manley^{1

8

9}, Graeme R Polglase^{2

10}, Stuart B Hooper^{2

10}, Peter G Davis^{1

8

9}, Douglas A Blank^{2

7}

Affiliations

¹ Newborn Research Centre, The Royal Women's Hospital, 20 Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
² The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
³ Newborn Research Centre, The Royal Women's Hospital, 20 Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. kate.hodgson@thewomens.org.au.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. kate.hodgson@thewomens.org.au.
⁵ Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
⁶ Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
⁷ Monash Newborn, Monash Children's Hospital, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
⁸ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁹ Clinical Sciences Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
¹⁰ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, VIC, Australia.

Abstract

Randomised trials in emergency settings must quickly confirm eligibility and allocate participants to an intervention group without delaying treatment. We report rapid randomisation during two neonatal resuscitation trials using the non-commercial REDCap platform accessed via smartphone. This simple, reliable method has wide applicability for trials in emergency settings. What is Known: • Randomised trials in emergency settings need to rapidly allocate participants to an intervention group. • This process should not delay treatment. What is New: • This non-commercial, smartphone-accessible application enabled rapid, accurate randomisation at the bedside. • This has broad applicability for emergency setting trials.

Keywords: Neonatal; Randomised controlled trial.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Humans
Infant, Newborn
Research Design
Resuscitation*
Smartphone*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding