Course content

By the end of this course, attendees will be able to critique and apply a range of appropriate design approaches and analytical methods for cluster randomised and stepped wedge trials.

The course will cover:

• Key concepts of cluster randomised trials, including measures of between-cluster variation and the rationale for cluster randomisation
• Design of cluster-randomised trials, including cluster selection and randomisation procedures
• Calculation of sample size
• Analysis of cluster randomised trials using both cluster-level summaries and individual-level data (random effects models and generalised estimating equations)
• Design and analysis of stepped wedge trials
• Ethical considerations, data monitoring and reporting of CRTs

Teaching format

The course will have a hybrid format and students can choose to attend in person in London or online. Teaching will take place through a blend of lectures and hands-on, live, practical sessions. There will be a strong emphasis on the practical exercises where participants will have hands-on experience using Stata to analyse illustrative datasets from a variety of trials. Solutions to practical exercises in R will also be provided to enable students with a solid knowledge of R to use that instead of Stata. 

Students attending in person who do not have their own laptop will be given access to one for the practical sessions. For those attending online, sessions will take place using Zoom and therefore participants will need to have a reliable internet service and a PC or laptop with microphone and speakers. Students on the course without access to Stata will be given a temporary Stata licence for the duration of the course.

The course will take place from approximately 9:30am to 5.00pm British Summer Time (BST).