Table 2 Characteristics of the ‘Improving Secondary Prophylaxis’ stepped-wedge trial
Term/Trial characteristic | Definition |
|---|---|
Unit | Aboriginal health centres |
Cluster | Pairs of health centres |
Individuals | People with ARF/RHD who require secondary prophylaxis with penicillin, whose primary health centre is enrolled in the study |
Timing of start of exposure | Groups of individuals (all individuals managed by a given community clinic) are first exposed at one of a number of discrete time points |
Duration of exposure | Fixed length: 15Â months per clinic |
Measurement | Repeated measurements from individuals: record of every penicillin injection received, as documented in the ARF/RHD Register |
Duration of trial | 3.5Â years |
Number of clinics per cluster | 2 |
Total number of clusters | 5 |
Pre-roll out period | 11 to 25Â months |
Roll out period | 15Â months |
Post-rollout period | 3 to 15Â months |