Regression modelExperimental Design

Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial

A stepped wedge cluster randomized trial is an experimental design where clusters (e.g., schools, hospitals, communities) are randomized to receive an intervention in a phased, staggered manner over time. First formally described by Hussey and Hughes in 2007, this design combines the benefits of cluster randomization with a time-stepped implementation strategy. It is particularly useful for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions in real-world healthcare and public health settings.

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Sources

  1. Hemming, K., Haines, T. P., Chilton, P. J., Girling, A. J., & Lilford, R. J. (2015). The stepped wedge cluster randomised trial: rationale, design, analysis, and reporting. British Medical Journal, 350, h391. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.h391
  2. Hussey, M. A., & Hughes, J. P. (2007). Design and analysis of stepped wedge cluster randomized trials. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 28(2), 182-191. DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2006.05.007
  3. Baio, G., Copas, A., Ambler, G., Hargreaves, J., Beard, E., & Omar, R. Z. (2015). Sample size calculation for a stepped wedge trial. Trials, 16(1), 354. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-015-0840-9

Related methods

ScholarGateStepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial (Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial Design). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://scholargate.app/en/causal-inference/stepped-wedge-cluster-randomized-trial