Are reporting guidelines used in infectious diseases publications? An analysis of more than 1,000 articles

Abstract Objective: To assess whether 16 reporting guidelines of Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of Health Research (EQUATOR) were used in infectious diseases research publications. Design: This cross-sectional, audit-type study assessed articles published in five infectious diseases jour...

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Main Authors: Aldo Barajas-Ochoa, Manuel Ramirez-Trejo, Aditee Dash, Jillian E. Raybould, Gonzalo Bearman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2023-01-01
Series:Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2732494X23004928/type/journal_article
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author Aldo Barajas-Ochoa
Manuel Ramirez-Trejo
Aditee Dash
Jillian E. Raybould
Gonzalo Bearman
author_facet Aldo Barajas-Ochoa
Manuel Ramirez-Trejo
Aditee Dash
Jillian E. Raybould
Gonzalo Bearman
author_sort Aldo Barajas-Ochoa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective: To assess whether 16 reporting guidelines of Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of Health Research (EQUATOR) were used in infectious diseases research publications. Design: This cross-sectional, audit-type study assessed articles published in five infectious diseases journals in 2019. Methods: All articles were manually reviewed to assess if a reporting guideline was advisable and searched for the names and acronyms of 16 reporting guidelines. An “advisable use rate” was calculated. Results: We reviewed 1,251 manuscripts across five infectious diseases journals. Guideline use was advisable for 973 (75%) articles. Reporting guidelines were used in 85 articles, 6.1% of total articles, and 8% (95% CI 6%–9%) of articles for which guidelines were advised. The advisable use rate ranged from 0.06 to 0.17 for any guideline, 0–0.08 for CONSORT, 0.53–1 for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and 0–0.66 for Transparent reporting of a multivariable prediction model for individual prognosis or diagnosis (TRIPOD) : The TRIPOD statement. No trends were observed across the five journals. Conclusions: The use of EQUATOR-related reporting guidelines is infrequent, despite journals and publishers promoting their usage. Whether this finding is attributable to knowledge, acceptance, or perceived usefulness of the guidelines still needs to be clarified.
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spelling doaj.art-b520270d579b42e3ac4c511aef7089682023-12-04T13:13:20ZengCambridge University PressAntimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology2732-494X2023-01-01310.1017/ash.2023.492Are reporting guidelines used in infectious diseases publications? An analysis of more than 1,000 articlesAldo Barajas-Ochoa0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4510-0534Manuel Ramirez-Trejo1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8418-3822Aditee Dash2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9622-9894Jillian E. Raybould3Gonzalo Bearman4Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USACentro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, MexicoDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USADivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USADivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA Abstract Objective: To assess whether 16 reporting guidelines of Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of Health Research (EQUATOR) were used in infectious diseases research publications. Design: This cross-sectional, audit-type study assessed articles published in five infectious diseases journals in 2019. Methods: All articles were manually reviewed to assess if a reporting guideline was advisable and searched for the names and acronyms of 16 reporting guidelines. An “advisable use rate” was calculated. Results: We reviewed 1,251 manuscripts across five infectious diseases journals. Guideline use was advisable for 973 (75%) articles. Reporting guidelines were used in 85 articles, 6.1% of total articles, and 8% (95% CI 6%–9%) of articles for which guidelines were advised. The advisable use rate ranged from 0.06 to 0.17 for any guideline, 0–0.08 for CONSORT, 0.53–1 for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and 0–0.66 for Transparent reporting of a multivariable prediction model for individual prognosis or diagnosis (TRIPOD) : The TRIPOD statement. No trends were observed across the five journals. Conclusions: The use of EQUATOR-related reporting guidelines is infrequent, despite journals and publishers promoting their usage. Whether this finding is attributable to knowledge, acceptance, or perceived usefulness of the guidelines still needs to be clarified. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2732494X23004928/type/journal_article
spellingShingle Aldo Barajas-Ochoa
Manuel Ramirez-Trejo
Aditee Dash
Jillian E. Raybould
Gonzalo Bearman
Are reporting guidelines used in infectious diseases publications? An analysis of more than 1,000 articles
Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology
title Are reporting guidelines used in infectious diseases publications? An analysis of more than 1,000 articles
title_full Are reporting guidelines used in infectious diseases publications? An analysis of more than 1,000 articles
title_fullStr Are reporting guidelines used in infectious diseases publications? An analysis of more than 1,000 articles
title_full_unstemmed Are reporting guidelines used in infectious diseases publications? An analysis of more than 1,000 articles
title_short Are reporting guidelines used in infectious diseases publications? An analysis of more than 1,000 articles
title_sort are reporting guidelines used in infectious diseases publications an analysis of more than 1 000 articles
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2732494X23004928/type/journal_article
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