Table 2 Review protocol considerations and characteristics of target trial (TT) for each study
From: Applying the ROBINS-I tool to natural experiments: an example from public health
Protocol/name of included study | Design | Intervention | TT comparison | Effect of interest assessed in study (classification) | Co-interventions/additional co-interventions | Outcome | Participants | Confounders stated in review protocol/additional confounders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actual comparison | ||||||||
Review protocol | – | Warmth and energy efficiency improvements | Eligible for intervention but not in receipt of it | ITT (Classification: baseline) | None | Respiratory health assessed 12 months since intervention (incl self/parent report) | General population eligible to receive intervention | Baseline health; housing quality; socio-economic status; eligibility for intervention |
No intervention/usual care | ||||||||
Braubach et al. [12] | CBA | Thermal insulation improvements | Eligible for intervention but not in receipt of it | No consensus (Classification: unclear) | Unclear: various additional improvements to communal areas, water, and power supply Not clear if balanced across groups. Mixed views on whether these were “important”. | Asthma attacks in past 3 months | Housing agency tenants | External temperature: contrast between baseline and follow-up despite 12 months later |
No intervention: area not selected for intervention | ||||||||
Hopton et al. [14] | CBA | Installation of “Heat with Rent” scheme | Eligible for intervention but not in receipt of it | No consensus (Classification: post hoc) | None | Wheeze in past 12 months (parent report) | Children (<16) in social housing | Length of time in house; reason for moving to house |
No intervention: non-participation in “Heat with Rent” scheme | ||||||||
Walker et al. [16] | CBA | Installation (and possibly repair) of heating system | Eligible for intervention but not in receipt of it | ITT (Classification: baseline) | None | Experience of wheeze in past year (self-report) | Social housing tenants and elderly (> 60 years) private sector households | Age; gender; recent life events; change in smoking exposure; housing type/tenure; central heating at baseline household composition |
No intervention: not eligible for programme (some contamination during study) | ||||||||
Shortt et al. [13] | CBA | Installation of heating system and other energy efficiency measures | Eligible for intervention but not in receipt of it | No consensus (Classification: post hoc) | Unclear: promotion of welfare uptake to intervention and comparison households. Not reported if balanced across groups. Assessed as “important”. | Asthma (self-report) | Vulnerable groups (>65 years, low income and “infirm”) | Housing tenure |
No intervention: not eligible for programme | ||||||||
Somerville et al. [15] | UBA | Installation of heating system | NA | No consensus (Classification: NA) | None | Wheeze by day (parent report) | Children (< 16) with asthma in damp social housing | Smokers in household; pets in household; house type; age |
Uncontrolled |