Guide overview
The essential idea
Reporting guidelines identify the minimum information readers need to understand and use a research report. The correct standard follows the actual study design and report type—not merely the topic or statistical method.
Practical framework
What to apply
Primary quantitative research
First determine whether participants were randomized, observed, or evaluated through a nonrandomized intervention design.
- CONSORT for randomized controlled trials, with the relevant extension when applicable.
- STROBE for cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional observational studies.
- RECORD for routinely collected health data and TREND for relevant nonrandomized interventions.
Evidence syntheses and protocols
Separate a completed evidence synthesis from a protocol describing work that is still planned.
- PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, including design-specific extensions.
- PRISMA-P for systematic-review protocols and SPIRIT for clinical-trial protocols.
- MOOSE for meta-analyses of observational studies where relevant.
Specialized clinical and qualitative designs
Diagnostic, prediction, case, and qualitative reports require design-specific information that a general checklist may miss.
- STARD for diagnostic accuracy and TRIPOD for prediction-model studies.
- CARE for clinical case reports.
- SRQR for qualitative research and COREQ for interviews and focus groups.
Other common research purposes
Animal research, quality improvement, economic evaluation, and guideline development each have dedicated frameworks.
- ARRIVE for in vivo animal research and SQUIRE for healthcare improvement.
- CHEERS for health economic evaluations and AGREE or RIGHT for practice guidelines.
- TIDieR as a companion standard when an intervention needs detailed description.
Before you finish
A short quality review
- Identify the actual design and report type before searching for a guideline.
- Check the EQUATOR database for extensions and specialty-specific standards.
- Read the explanation-and-elaboration paper, not only the short checklist.
- Map each applicable item to the manuscript, tables, figures, supplement, or protocol.
Reporting quality is not study quality. A complete checklist improves transparency, but it cannot repair weak design, biased conduct, inappropriate analysis, or unsupported interpretation.
Authoritative sources