Background-Interventions based in the community can be evaluated by randomi
sing clusters, such as general practices, rather than individuals, as in co
nventional randomised trials. This increases the sample size needed because
of intracluster correlation.
Aims-To estimate sample size requirements for cluster randomised trials of
interventions based in general practice directed at common health problems
affecting mothers and infants.
Methods-Data were collected from a pilot trial of the effect of Citizen's A
dvice Bureau services involving six general practices. Outcome measures inc
luded the Edinburgh postnatal depression score, the Warwick child health an
d morbidity profile, number of visits to the general practitioner, and two
questionnaires delivered at the beginning and end of the study. Intracluste
r correlation coefficients and inflation factors (the ratio of the sample s
ize required for a cluster randomised trial to that required for an individ
ually randomised trial) were calculated.
Results-Intracluster correlation coefficients ranged from 0 (sleeping probl
ems, accidental injury, hospitalisation) to 0.09 (maternal smoking), with m
ost being < 0.04 (for example, maternal depression, breast feeding, general
health, minor illness, behavioural problems, and visits to the general pra
ctitioner). Assuming 50 cases/practice, cluster randomised trials require s
ample sizes up to 3 times greater than individually randomised trials for m
ost health outcomes measured.
Conclusions-These data enable sample sizes to be estimated for cluster rand
omised trials into a range of maternal and child health outcomes. Using suc
h a design, approximately 40 practices would be sufficient to evaluate the
effect of an intervention on maternal depression, sleeping, and behavioural
problems, and non-routine visits to the general practitioner.