A review finds that the autoreply e-mail function avoids problems of subject allocation concealment

Abstract

Background and Objectives

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.