Cluster Randomised Trials, Second Edition discusses the design,
conduct, and analysis of trials that randomise groups of individuals to
different treatments. It explores the advantages of cluster
randomisation, with special attention given to evaluating the effects of
interventions against infectious diseases. Avoiding unnecessary
mathematical detail, the book covers basic concepts underlying the use
of cluster randomisation, such as direct, indirect, and total effects.
In the time since the publication of the first edition, the use of
cluster randomised trials (CRTs) has increased substantially, which is
reflected in the updates to this edition. There are greatly expanded
sections on randomisation, sample size estimation, and alternative
designs, including new material on stepped wedge designs. There is a new
section on handling ordinal outcome data, and an appendix with
descriptions and/or generating code of the example data sets.
Although the book mainly focuses on medical and public health
applications, it shows that the rigorous evidence of intervention
effects provided by CRTs has the potential to inform public policy in a
wide range of other areas. The book encourages readers to apply the
methods to their own trials, reproduce the analyses presented, and
explore alternative approaches.
