Article type
Year
Abstract
Background:
Transparent and accurate reporting of research studies enhances reliability and value of medical research. Furthermore, good reporting has been associated with better quality publications. Reporting guidelines are free and Equator (Enhancing QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) is a network that gathers and promotes most of them. As fertility journals are working hard to publish better papers, we decided to analyze the use of these guidelines in their publications.
Objectives:
To evaluate if fertility journals suggest or require the use of reporting guidelines.
Methods:
Online authors' instructions of fertility journals indexed in PubMed were analyzed, and the five journals with highest impact factor were evaluated as a subgroup. We evaluated whether they: 1) suggest or require the use of any reporting guideline, 2) facilitate their use (by links or checklists), or 3) mention EQUATOR and ICMJE.
Results:
We found online instructions for authors in 31 of the 35 fertility journals we analyzed that are indexed in PubMed. In 13/31(41.9%) one or more reporting guidelines were mentioned in some part of the authors' instructions. Of the top five fertility journals, four mentioned reporting guidelines: PRISMA (4/4) and CONSORT (3/4) were the most commonly mentioned reporting guidelines. In these journals, EQUATOR was specifically cited in Human Reproduction and Reproductive Bio Medicine online, and recommendations for ICMJE, with its website link, were mentioned in all but one.
Conclusions:
Most of fertility journals do not suggest or ask authors to use reporting guidelines. Nevertheless, within four out of the five fertility journals with highest impact factor, reporting guidelines are widely mentioned (especially CONSORT and PRISMA). Good reporting is the responsibility of each part of the publication process. Editorial boards should encourage authors to use the reporting guidelines and peer reviewers should check their use. Authors' responsibility does not end after using a correct study design - there is also a need to report it correctly. More emphasis should be placed on using reporting guidelines in the fertility field.
Transparent and accurate reporting of research studies enhances reliability and value of medical research. Furthermore, good reporting has been associated with better quality publications. Reporting guidelines are free and Equator (Enhancing QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) is a network that gathers and promotes most of them. As fertility journals are working hard to publish better papers, we decided to analyze the use of these guidelines in their publications.
Objectives:
To evaluate if fertility journals suggest or require the use of reporting guidelines.
Methods:
Online authors' instructions of fertility journals indexed in PubMed were analyzed, and the five journals with highest impact factor were evaluated as a subgroup. We evaluated whether they: 1) suggest or require the use of any reporting guideline, 2) facilitate their use (by links or checklists), or 3) mention EQUATOR and ICMJE.
Results:
We found online instructions for authors in 31 of the 35 fertility journals we analyzed that are indexed in PubMed. In 13/31(41.9%) one or more reporting guidelines were mentioned in some part of the authors' instructions. Of the top five fertility journals, four mentioned reporting guidelines: PRISMA (4/4) and CONSORT (3/4) were the most commonly mentioned reporting guidelines. In these journals, EQUATOR was specifically cited in Human Reproduction and Reproductive Bio Medicine online, and recommendations for ICMJE, with its website link, were mentioned in all but one.
Conclusions:
Most of fertility journals do not suggest or ask authors to use reporting guidelines. Nevertheless, within four out of the five fertility journals with highest impact factor, reporting guidelines are widely mentioned (especially CONSORT and PRISMA). Good reporting is the responsibility of each part of the publication process. Editorial boards should encourage authors to use the reporting guidelines and peer reviewers should check their use. Authors' responsibility does not end after using a correct study design - there is also a need to report it correctly. More emphasis should be placed on using reporting guidelines in the fertility field.