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 aims to evaluate the editorial policy of nursing journals in the basic requirements for reporting guidelines and trial registration in the last seven years.
Methods: we reviewed the 'Instructions for Authors' of nursing journals included in ISI Web of Science for evidence of editorial policy on reporting guidelines and trial registration in March 2012, March 2015 and March 2019.
Results: of 89 nursing journals examined in 2012, 25 (28.1%) required authors to comply with the recommendation in the relevant reporting guidelines, and only 7 (7.7%) required clinical trial registration. In 2015, reporting guidelines were required in 43/107 (40.2%) journals, and trial registration was demanded in 13/107 (12.1%) journals. In 2019, 118 nursing journals were evaluated, 64 (54.2 %) required authors to follow the reporting guidelines, and 52 (44.1 %) would not consider the trials for publication unless they were registered prospectively before recruitment of any participants.
Conclusions: although improved in recent years, half of nursing journals still do not require authors to comply with the recommendation of relevant reporting guidelines, nor require trial registration prior to the start of participant enrolment in a clinical study. For the purpose of improving reliability of nursing research literature, there is a need for nursing journals to post a requirement on reporting guidelines and trial registration.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: yes
Objectives: the study aims to evaluate the editorial policy of nursing journals in the basic requirements for reporting guidelines and trial registration in the last seven years.
Methods: we reviewed the 'Instructions for Authors' of nursing journals included in ISI Web of Science for evidence of editorial policy on reporting guidelines and trial registration in March 2012, March 2015 and March 2019.
Results: of 89 nursing journals examined in 2012, 25 (28.1%) required authors to comply with the recommendation in the relevant reporting guidelines, and only 7 (7.7%) required clinical trial registration. In 2015, reporting guidelines were required in 43/107 (40.2%) journals, and trial registration was demanded in 13/107 (12.1%) journals. In 2019, 118 nursing journals were evaluated, 64 (54.2 %) required authors to follow the reporting guidelines, and 52 (44.1 %) would not consider the trials for publication unless they were registered prospectively before recruitment of any participants.
Conclusions: although improved in recent years, half of nursing journals still do not require authors to comply with the recommendation of relevant reporting guidelines, nor require trial registration prior to the start of participant enrolment in a clinical study. For the purpose of improving reliability of nursing research literature, there is a need for nursing journals to post a requirement on reporting guidelines and trial registration.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: yes
PDF