The random allocation method in this study will be the permuted block technique. The permuted block technique randomizes patients between groups within a set of study participants, called a block. In this trial, which is performed on two groups with a 1:1 allocation ratio and a block size of 4, the total number of possible 4 permutations is equal to 6. If A is the label used for the intervention group and B for the placebo group, the possible blocks might be ABAB, BABA, AABB, BBAA, ABBA, BAAB.
Then, using a table of random numbers and assigning the code zero to 9 to each of the permutations, a random list of 60 numbers, which includes 15 blocks of 4 (4 * 15 = 60 total number of samples), is generated and the order, in which each of the subjects is assigned to the two study groups, is determined. For example; AABB Code 0, BABA Code 1, AABB Code 2, BBAA Code 3, BAAB Code 4, and ABBA Code 5 to 9.
Then, by using a table of random numbers, the starting point is randomly selected and 15 numbers are randomly chosen (in row or column) and the permutation assigned to each number is recorded. The order of placement of permutations will be from left to right, therefore, allocation of all 60 subjects to the two groups A and B will be determined.