PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT IN RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS (RCTS) OF REHABILITATION

Objective: To provide guidelines for conducting independent assessment s in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of rehabilitation. The articl e aims to assist those who plan to put independent assessment into pra ctice and to be an introduction for those who are new to independent a ssessment. Issues: Possible causes of unblinding to group allocation a re discussed, such as unblinding by other people, the environment, pat ients and assessors themselves. Other issues discussed in this paper a re bias during assessment and monitoring levels of unblinding. Conclus ion: The importance of monitoring levels of unblinding is stressed. Al though it may not be possible to always keep an assessor blind in RCTs of rehabilitation, we should strive for perfection. It is therefore a dvocated that levels of unblinding should be reported.