{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,19]],"date-time":"2026-03-19T18:03:43Z","timestamp":1773943423237,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":14,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,18]],"date-time":"2024-01-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1705536000000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":17,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000664","name":"Health Technology Assessment Programme","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["NIHR131352"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NIHR131352"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000664","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,24]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The aim of the STOPPIT-3 study is to determine the clinical and cost effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) prior to planned birth of twins in a multicentre placebo-controlled trial with internal pilot.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods and analysis<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study will comprise a multicentre, double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in at least 50 UK obstetric units. The target population is 1552\u2009women with a twin pregnancy and a planned birth between 35 and 38+6 weeks\u2019 gestation recruited from antenatal clinics. Women will be randomised to Dexamethasone Phosphate (24\u2009mg) or saline administered via two intramuscular injections 24 hours apart, 24\u2013120\u2009hours prior to scheduled birth.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Outcomes<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The primary outcome is need for respiratory support within 72 hours of birth. Secondary and safety outcomes will be included. Cognitive and language development at age 2 years will be assessed in a subset of participants using the Parent report of Children\u2019s Abilities-Revised questionnaire. We will also determine the cost effectiveness of the treatment with ACS compared with placebo.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Ethics and dissemination<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>STOPPIT-3 has been funded and approved by the National Institute of Healthcare Research. It has been approved by the West Midlands Research Ethics Committee (22\/WM\/0018). The results will be disseminated via publication in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentation and will also be communicated to the public via links with charity partners and social media.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Trial sponsor<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The University of Edinburgh and Lothian Health Board ACCORD, The Queen\u2019s Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Trial registration number<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      <jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" ext-link-type=\"isrctn\" xlink:href=\"ISRCTN59959611\">ISRCTN59959611<\/jats:ext-link>\n                      .\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2023-078778","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,18]],"date-time":"2024-01-18T07:17:32Z","timestamp":1705562252000},"page":"e078778","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Randomised placebo-controlled trial of antenatal corticosteroids for planned birth in twins (STOPPIT-3): study protocol"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"14","clinical-trial-number":[{"clinical-trial-number":"isrctn59959611","registry":"10.18810\/isrctn"}],"author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2344-6852","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sarah","family":"Murray","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jessica","family":"Thompson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of 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E","family":"Norman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Nottingham Executive Office, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9823-9252","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"John","family":"Norrie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3904-8960","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"James P","family":"Boardman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9806-1092","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Karen","family":"Luyt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Asma","family":"Khalil","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George\u2019s University of London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8557-7276","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Debra","family":"Bick","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Keith","family":"Reed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CEO, Parent Infant Foundation, London, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jane","family":"Denton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Co lead Elizabeth Bryan Multiple Births Centre, Imperial College London, London, 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