Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Incomplete and inadequate reporting of research in the medical literature is a widely recognised problem which hampers the critical appraisal and appropriate interpretation of research findings and complicates the practice of evidence-based health care. Reporting guidelines that are adopted by leading medical journals can improve the quality of reporting, as demonstrated by the CONSORT statement for randomised controlled trials. The interest in systematic reviews of observational studies has increased in recent years. Better reporting of such studies may facilitate the conduct of valid systematic reviews of non-randomised evidence in the future.
Objectives: To strengthen the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology. To develop a checklist of items considered essential for the reporting of observational research (STROBE statement).
Methods: A group of epidemiologists, methodologists, medical statisticians and editors from several European countries and the USA met for a workshop in Bristol in September 2004. The aim was to develop recommendations for the reporting of observational studies, including cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies. The resulting draft checklist was posted on the initiativeÂs website (www.strobe-statement.org) in spring 2005 and further input has since been collected from the community at large.
Results: The STROBE statement comprises a checklist of 22 items that are recommended for the reporting of observational studies. The checklist is structured in five sections. Fourteen items are generic and three items are specific for each of the three designs cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional study. Five items have a generic and a specific part. Table 1 displays the scope of items; the latest full version of the checklist will be presented at the Colloquium.
Conclusions: Dissemination and adoption of reporting recommendations have a potential to improve current reporting practice also of observational studies. The STROBE statement should be seen as the result of an ongoing process. Future revisions of the statement and extensions to cover additional study designs are planned. The Cochrane community is heartily invited to contribute to this process.
Objectives: To strengthen the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology. To develop a checklist of items considered essential for the reporting of observational research (STROBE statement).
Methods: A group of epidemiologists, methodologists, medical statisticians and editors from several European countries and the USA met for a workshop in Bristol in September 2004. The aim was to develop recommendations for the reporting of observational studies, including cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies. The resulting draft checklist was posted on the initiativeÂs website (www.strobe-statement.org) in spring 2005 and further input has since been collected from the community at large.
Results: The STROBE statement comprises a checklist of 22 items that are recommended for the reporting of observational studies. The checklist is structured in five sections. Fourteen items are generic and three items are specific for each of the three designs cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional study. Five items have a generic and a specific part. Table 1 displays the scope of items; the latest full version of the checklist will be presented at the Colloquium.
Conclusions: Dissemination and adoption of reporting recommendations have a potential to improve current reporting practice also of observational studies. The STROBE statement should be seen as the result of an ongoing process. Future revisions of the statement and extensions to cover additional study designs are planned. The Cochrane community is heartily invited to contribute to this process.