2.4 | Randomization and allocation concealment
After signing an informed consent and undergoing a basic assessment, HF
patients were randomly assigned by using a random number table through
an online random tool
(https://tools.medsci.cn/rand/getNumWithCode) (random number seed:
70472134). Researcher No.1 was responsible for the randomization
process, but not participating in the enrollment. Enrollment was
performed by investigator No.2. In order to avoid mutual contamination
among HF patients in the same ward, the potential patients in the same
wards were also excluded. One hundred and forty patients were randomized
and assigned to the professional recording group (PRG) or the simplified
recording group (SRG). Eleven patients were excluded lately because of
losing observation, in-hospital death, or transferring to other
departments. The flow chart of patients screening and allocating was
shown in Figure 1.