Use of the stepped wedge design cannot be recommended: a critical appraisal and comparison with the classic cluster randomized controlled trial design.

Daniel Kotz*, Mark Spigt, Ilja C.W. Arts, Rik Crutzen, Wolfgang Viechtbauer Department of General Practice, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands Department of Epidemiology, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, PO Box 616 Maastricht, The Netherlands Department of Epidemiology CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, PO Box 616 Maastricht, The Netherlands Department of Health Promotion, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, PO Box 616 Maastricht, The Netherlands Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, MHeNS School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, PO Box 616 Maastricht, The Netherlands