Table 2 Trial design
Intervention period | Time block | Care provided | Time period | Condition period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
One | One | Usual care | 1 to 21 November 2008 | Usual-care condition period |
One | Two | Protocol care | 22 November to 12 December 2008 | Protocol-care condition period |
Washout period | Three | Usual care | 13 December 2008 to 4 January 2009 | Washout period Daily patient data were not collected. No new patient admissions into project |
Two | Four | Usual care | 5 to 25 January 2009 | Usual-care condition period |
Two | Five | Protocol care | 26 January to 15 February 2009 | Protocol-care condition period |
Washout period | Six | Usual care | 16 February 2009 until all trial patients had been discharged from the unit | Washout period Daily patient data were not collected. No new patient admissions into project |