Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Empirical evidence suggests that active implementation of the CONSORT and other reporting guidance by journals can lead to improvements in the reporting of trials and other studies.
Objectives: To investigate how many medical journals adopt reporting standards for randomised controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews (SRs) and Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) in their 'Instructions for authors'.
Methods: We used highly sensitive search filters were used to identify RCTs, SRs and CPGs in PubMed. Then we selected the top 50 journals that published each type of study and checked whether CONSORT, PRISMA and reporting criteria for CPGs were adopted in their instructions for authors.
Results: The results showed that 28 (56%) journals adopted CONSORT, 20 (40%) journals adopted PRISMA. For CPGs, only one (2%) journal had adopted Conference on Guideline Standardization (COGS) as a reporting standard. Apart from that, two journals mentioned in their instructions that when authors develop guidelines, they should follow Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) standard.
Conclusions: We suggest that medical journals that publish CPGs should introduce relevant reporting standards in their 'Instructions for authors'. Guideline authors also need to report their guidelines clearly, transparently and standardly.
Objectives: To investigate how many medical journals adopt reporting standards for randomised controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews (SRs) and Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) in their 'Instructions for authors'.
Methods: We used highly sensitive search filters were used to identify RCTs, SRs and CPGs in PubMed. Then we selected the top 50 journals that published each type of study and checked whether CONSORT, PRISMA and reporting criteria for CPGs were adopted in their instructions for authors.
Results: The results showed that 28 (56%) journals adopted CONSORT, 20 (40%) journals adopted PRISMA. For CPGs, only one (2%) journal had adopted Conference on Guideline Standardization (COGS) as a reporting standard. Apart from that, two journals mentioned in their instructions that when authors develop guidelines, they should follow Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) standard.
Conclusions: We suggest that medical journals that publish CPGs should introduce relevant reporting standards in their 'Instructions for authors'. Guideline authors also need to report their guidelines clearly, transparently and standardly.