The balanced incomplete block design is not suitable for the evaluation of complex interventions

J. Trietsch; P. Leffers; B. van Steenkiste; R. Grol; T. van der Weijden

doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2014.07.006

The balanced incomplete block design is not suitable for the evaluation of complex interventions

J. Trietsch^*, P. Leffers, B. van Steenkiste, R. Grol, T. van der Weijden

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Objectives: In quality of care research, the balanced incomplete block (BIB) design is regularly claimed to have been used when evaluating complex interventions. In this article, we reflect on the appropriateness of using this design for evaluating complex interventions.

Study Design and Setting: Literature study using PubMed and handbooks.

Results: After studying various articles on health services research that claim to have applied the BIB and the original methodological literature on this design, it became clear that the applied method is in fact not a BIB design.

Conclusion: We conclude that the use of this design is not suited for evaluating complex interventions. We stress that, to prevent improper use of terms, more attention should be paid to proper referencing of the original methodological literature.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1295-1298
Number of pages	4
Journal	Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Volume	67
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2014.07.006
Publication status	Published - Dec 2014

Keywords

Research methodology
Evaluation studies
Primary care
Health care evaluation mechanisms
Quality of health care
Epidemiologic research design
RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL
TEST ORDERING PERFORMANCE
PRIMARY-CARE
IMPLEMENTATION
STRATEGY

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jclinepi.2014.07.006

Cite this

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title = "The balanced incomplete block design is not suitable for the evaluation of complex interventions",

abstract = "Objectives: In quality of care research, the balanced incomplete block (BIB) design is regularly claimed to have been used when evaluating complex interventions. In this article, we reflect on the appropriateness of using this design for evaluating complex interventions.Study Design and Setting: Literature study using PubMed and handbooks.Results: After studying various articles on health services research that claim to have applied the BIB and the original methodological literature on this design, it became clear that the applied method is in fact not a BIB design.Conclusion: We conclude that the use of this design is not suited for evaluating complex interventions. We stress that, to prevent improper use of terms, more attention should be paid to proper referencing of the original methodological literature. ",

keywords = "Research methodology, Evaluation studies, Primary care, Health care evaluation mechanisms, Quality of health care, Epidemiologic research design, RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL, TEST ORDERING PERFORMANCE, PRIMARY-CARE, IMPLEMENTATION, STRATEGY",

author = "J. Trietsch and P. Leffers and {van Steenkiste}, B. and R. Grol and {van der Weijden}, T.",

year = "2014",

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doi = "10.1016/j.jclinepi.2014.07.006",

language = "English",

volume = "67",

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journal = "Journal of Clinical Epidemiology",

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AU - Trietsch, J.

AU - Leffers, P.

AU - van Steenkiste, B.

AU - Grol, R.

AU - van der Weijden, T.

PY - 2014/12

Y1 - 2014/12

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AB - Objectives: In quality of care research, the balanced incomplete block (BIB) design is regularly claimed to have been used when evaluating complex interventions. In this article, we reflect on the appropriateness of using this design for evaluating complex interventions.Study Design and Setting: Literature study using PubMed and handbooks.Results: After studying various articles on health services research that claim to have applied the BIB and the original methodological literature on this design, it became clear that the applied method is in fact not a BIB design.Conclusion: We conclude that the use of this design is not suited for evaluating complex interventions. We stress that, to prevent improper use of terms, more attention should be paid to proper referencing of the original methodological literature.

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KW - Evaluation studies

KW - Primary care

KW - Health care evaluation mechanisms

KW - Quality of health care

KW - Epidemiologic research design

KW - RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL

KW - TEST ORDERING PERFORMANCE

KW - PRIMARY-CARE

KW - IMPLEMENTATION

KW - STRATEGY

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