A review finds that the autoreply e-mail function avoids problems of subject allocation concealment.
OBJECTIVE
Using the autoreply e-mail function to avoid problems of subject allocation concealment.


METHODS
A narrative review discussing technologic and methodologic issues in using autoreply e-mail to securely conceal subject allocation in randomized control trials.


RESULTS
Autoreply e-mail can be successfully used to securely conceal subjects in a variety of randomized control trials.


CONCLUSIONS
The allocation of subjects to intervention groups in randomized controlled trials should be achieved using methods that avoid both systematic bias and subject allocation transparency. The use of computer-generated tables and the automatic e-mail reply system are suggested as a solution to ensuring subject allocation concealment.
Cunningham
Andrew
A
Department of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health, University of Central Lancashire, PR 1 2HE United Kingdom. acunningham@uclan.ac.uk
D034742:Electronic Mail; D011897:Random Allocation; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design