Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Reporting guidelines listed at the website of the EQUATOR network, such as CONSORT and PRISMA, are known to improve reliability of medical research literature by promoting transparent and accurate reporting of research studies. Similarly, trial registration improved research transparency and will ultimately strengthen the validity and value of the scientific evidence base. Most biomedical journals require authors to ensure that the manuscript includes all the information recommended in the relevant reporting guidelines, and support clinical trial registration policies by the World Health Organization. However, the attention of reporting guidelines and trial registration in nursing journals is unclear.
Objectives: The study is aimed to evaluate the editorial policy of nursing journals in the basic requirements for reporting guidelines and trial registration.
Methods: The ‘Instructions for Authors’ of nursing journals included in ISI Web of Science was reviewed for evidence of an editorial policy on the reporting guidelines and trial registration.
Results: Of 89 nursing journals examined, 25 (28.1%) require authors to comply the recommendation in the relevant reporting guidelines, 64 (71.9%) mentioned no policy on the requirement in research reporting. For the requirement of clinical trial registration, only 7 (7.7%) will not consider reports of clinical trials unless they were registered prospectively before recruitment of any participants.
Conclusions: Most nursing journals do not require the authors to comply the recommendation of relevant reporting guidelines, nor claim the need of trial registration prior to the start of patient enrollment in a clinical study. For the purpose of improve reliability of nursing research literatures, there is a need for nursing journals to post a requirement on the reporting guidelines and trial registration.
Objectives: The study is aimed to evaluate the editorial policy of nursing journals in the basic requirements for reporting guidelines and trial registration.
Methods: The ‘Instructions for Authors’ of nursing journals included in ISI Web of Science was reviewed for evidence of an editorial policy on the reporting guidelines and trial registration.
Results: Of 89 nursing journals examined, 25 (28.1%) require authors to comply the recommendation in the relevant reporting guidelines, 64 (71.9%) mentioned no policy on the requirement in research reporting. For the requirement of clinical trial registration, only 7 (7.7%) will not consider reports of clinical trials unless they were registered prospectively before recruitment of any participants.
Conclusions: Most nursing journals do not require the authors to comply the recommendation of relevant reporting guidelines, nor claim the need of trial registration prior to the start of patient enrollment in a clinical study. For the purpose of improve reliability of nursing research literatures, there is a need for nursing journals to post a requirement on the reporting guidelines and trial registration.