The principle used in the analysis (intention to treat or treatment completers only) was not specified. The primary health outcome was the length of inappropriate stress ulcer prophylaxis. Complications were also documented. These were defined as 'overt bleeding' to correspond with gross blood or "coffee ground" material in the nasogastric aspirate, hematochezia, haematemesis, or melena. In turn, 'clinically important bleeding' was defined as overt bleeding complicated by one or more of the following within 24 hours after onset: a decrease in systolic blood pressure of more than 20 mm Hg; an increase in heart rate of >20 beats/min, or a decrease in systolic blood pressure of > 10 mm Hg with orthostatic change; or a decrease in haemoglobin of >2g/dL followed by transfusion. Patient groups (before and after intervention groups) were comparable in terms of patient demographics and the number of risk factors for stress-induced bleeding.