Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Many studies that evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of one or more medical tests, by comparing test results against a clinical reference standard, fail to report key elements of the design and the results. This makes judgments about risk of bias and applicability of study findings difficult, and complicates evidence synthesis. In 2003, a group of researchers, editors, and other stakeholders published the STARD statement (STAndards for Reporting Diagnostic accuracy): a list of 25 essential items that should be included in every report of a diagnostic accuracy study. Evaluations have revealed modest, but significant, improvements in reporting since then.
Objectives: In 2013, the STARD steering committee decided to prepare an update. Two considerations were key: 1) the update should be based on the accumulated evidence about sources of bias and variability and honest reporting; 2) the update should make STARD easier to use.
Methods: Original STARD group members were invited to participate, and to nominate new members. The STARD group now consists of 85 researchers, editors, and other stakeholders. In web-based surveys, they could respond to and suggest changes in the list of items. A draft version of the new list of items was put together during a live meeting of the steering committee and then piloted.
Results: The updated list consists of 30 items. Compared to the 2003 version, a few items were added, some were combined, others were split into separate items, while the remaining items were sometimes reworded, to make them easier to understand, and to harmonize wording with other reporting guidelines.
Conclusion: The updated STARD list will be released later in 2015. As establishing a list of essential items is not sufficient to improve reporting, the release of the update will be accompanied by additional initiatives, such as explanatory documents, lectures, writing templates for authors and for reviewers. Improving the completeness and transparency of reporting will help us all to reduce avoidable waste in research, and strengthen the evidence base for making decisions and building recommendations about medical tests.
Objectives: In 2013, the STARD steering committee decided to prepare an update. Two considerations were key: 1) the update should be based on the accumulated evidence about sources of bias and variability and honest reporting; 2) the update should make STARD easier to use.
Methods: Original STARD group members were invited to participate, and to nominate new members. The STARD group now consists of 85 researchers, editors, and other stakeholders. In web-based surveys, they could respond to and suggest changes in the list of items. A draft version of the new list of items was put together during a live meeting of the steering committee and then piloted.
Results: The updated list consists of 30 items. Compared to the 2003 version, a few items were added, some were combined, others were split into separate items, while the remaining items were sometimes reworded, to make them easier to understand, and to harmonize wording with other reporting guidelines.
Conclusion: The updated STARD list will be released later in 2015. As establishing a list of essential items is not sufficient to improve reporting, the release of the update will be accompanied by additional initiatives, such as explanatory documents, lectures, writing templates for authors and for reviewers. Improving the completeness and transparency of reporting will help us all to reduce avoidable waste in research, and strengthen the evidence base for making decisions and building recommendations about medical tests.