Does balancing site characteristics result in balanced population characteristics in a cluster-randomized controlled trial?

ConclusionsUsing a balancing algorithm to reduce imbalance among site characteristics across time periods did not appear to negatively affect the balance of patient characteristics across sites over time. A site-level balancing algorithm that includes characteristics with a direct relationship to relevant patient-level factors may improve the overall balance across key elements of the study, and aide in the interpretation of results.
Source: Health Services and Outcomes Research Methodology - Category: Statistics Source Type: research