Reporting Research and Evaluating Studies

Reporting guidelines are tools to identify methodological weaknesses and promote transparency. They are not intended to dictate the design of a study or the conduct of investigators. These guidelines offer recommended frameworks for investigators to consider as they report their research.  
 
The following reporting guidelines are organized by study type. Many of these initiatives are ongoing processes and periodically updated.

Randomized Controlled Trials

• CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) - Guidelines for the reporting of randomized controlled trials.  
• SPIRIT Statement - Recommendation for reporting clinical trials.
• TiDieR (Template for Intervention Description and replication) - Checklist and guide for reporting interventions. 

Observational Studies 

• MOOSE (Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) - Guidelines for reporting meta-analyses of observational studies in epidemiology. PMID: 10789670.
• STROBE (STrengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) - Guidelines for reporting various types of observational (cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional) studies in epidemiology.
• TREND Statement (Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomized Designs) - This set of guidelines from the CDC contains items for reporting nonrandomized control trials.

Systematic Reviews

• PRISMA Statement (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) - Formerly QUOROM, PRISMA offers guidelines for the reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. 

Quality Improvement Studies

• SQUIRE Guidelines (Standards for QUality Improvement Reporting Excellence) - Guidelines for quality improvement reporting. 
• CARE (CAse REports) Statement - Guidelines for the reporting of case reports. 

Diagnostic/Prognostic Studies

• STARD (Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy) - Checklist for reporting the quality of diagnostic accuracy studies.

Qualitative Research

• SRQR (Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research) - Recommends a list of 21 items for reporting qualitative research.
• COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) - Offers a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups.

• EQUATOR network - Access to over 300 reporting guidelines.
• SIGN Critical Appraisal: Notes and Checklists - Appraisal tools for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, as well as cohort, case-control, diagnostic, and economic studies from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.