The treatment assignment sequence was masked to the investigator with the use
of opaque envelopes.
Quote: «A biostatistician prepared a set
of opaque envelopes, each labelled with a subject ID number and containing a group assignment.
Not exact matches
low risk
of bias (e.g. telephone or central randomisation; consecutively numbered sealed
opaque envelopes);
Paper stated «Women were asked to select an
envelope from a group
of at least 6 sealed,
opaque envelopes, replenished in blocks
of 12.
Next we modelled our high performance
envelope scenario to see what would be required for compliance if using a boiler and found that near passive house levels
of insulation and airtightness would be needed for all three house types, with U-values
of 0.13 for
opaque elements, 1.2 for windows and doors and an airtightness
of 1.0 m3 / h / m2).
Group affiliation and study number were noted on a piece
of paper and placed in a set
of identical
opaque envelopes by the first author (FO).
After consent and the collection
of baseline data, randomisation was undertaken using sequentially numbered sealed
opaque envelopes (fig 1).