title: Stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial designs: a review of reporting quality and design features.
abstract: The stepped wedge (SW) cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) design is being used with increasing frequency. However, there is limited published research on the quality of reporting of SW-CRCTs. We address this issue by conducting a literature review.
  
  
  
  Medline, Ovid, Web of Knowledge, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, the ISRCTN registry, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched to identify investigations employing the SW-CRCT design up to February 2015. For each included completed study, information was extracted on a selection of criteria, based on the CONSORT extension to CRCTs, to assess the quality of reporting.
  
  
  
  A total of 123 studies were included in our review, of which 39 were completed trial reports. The standard of reporting of SW-CRCTs varied in quality. The percentage of trials reporting each criterion varied to as low as 15.4%, with a median of 66.7%.
  
  
  
  There is much room for improvement in the quality of reporting of SW-CRCTs. This is consistent with recent findings for CRCTs. A CONSORT extension for SW-CRCTs is warranted to standardize the reporting of SW-CRCTs.
authors.affiliation: MRC Biostatistics Unit Hub for Trials Methodology Research, Cambridge Institute of Public Health, University Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK. mjg211@cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Grayling
authors.affiliation: MRC Biostatistics Unit Hub for Trials Methodology Research, Cambridge Institute of Public Health, University Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
authors.forename: James M S
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wason
authors.affiliation: MRC Biostatistics Unit Hub for Trials Methodology Research, Cambridge Institute of Public Health, University Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
authors.forename: Adrian P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mander
mesh_terms: D000068598:Data Accuracy; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards
keywords: Cluster randomized controlled trial; Reporting quality; Review; Stepped wedge