research article structure: w here can reporting guidelines help? iveta simera

Research article structure:

Where can reporting guidelines help?

Iveta Simera

The EQUATOR Network workshop 10 October 2012, Freiburg, Germany

Research article

• Research article is ‘end product’ of one process …

• …and ‘raw material’ of other processes

2

Design Conduct Publication

Use in further research

Clinical practice guideline

Systematic reviewPublication

Primary research

Informs health policies and clinical practice

Research article: “fit for purpose”

• Published research article is a permanent record

• Will be used by different users for different purposes which means different needs for reporting– From brief scanning for information – To rigorous scrutiny of methodology and findings for possible comparison across

studies in systematic reviews

• Published article should be fit for these multiple purposes

• New ways of publishing (e.g. online suppl) can aid readability without excluding crucial information

3

Typical medical article sections

• Title – attracts readers to the key aspects of the study

• Abstract – summarises the paper and, together with the title, helps reader identify the nature of the

study and briefly summarises what was found

• Introduction – explains why we did the study and what question we asked

• Methods – describes how we did it

• Results – presents what we found

• Discussion – considers what the findings mean

• Conclusions – if present offers a succinct summary of the major findings

4

Good research paper

• Is based on carefully designed and well conducted study

• Combines: – Good logical structure

– Complete and accurate description of the key study elements

– Clear and concise writing style

5

Good research paper

• Is based on carefully designed and well conducted study

• Combines: – Good logical structure

– Complete and accurate description of the key study elements

– Clear and concise writing style

6

Scientific writing guidance

Good research paper

• Is based on carefully designed and well conducted study

• Combines: – Good logical structure

– Complete and accurate description of the key study elements

– Clear and concise writing style

7

Reporting guidelines

Scientific writing guidance

Reporting guidelines (RGs)

• Focus on scientific content of the article

• Provide structured advice on what to include in a research report

• Definition:– Specify a minimum set of items required for a clear and

transparent account of what was done and what was found in a research study, reflecting in particular issues that might introduce bias into the research

– Form: often as a checklist (perhaps also a flow diagram)

• Most internationally accepted RGs– Based on evidence– Consensus of relevant stakeholders (multidisciplinary

group)

8Moher et al. PLoS Med 2010

Large number of RGs

9

EQUATOR Librarycurrently over 200 RG (2012)

EQUATOR selection criteria: - Deliberately broad

(comprehensive collection) - No assessment of

development methods, usability, etc.

Available RG vary in:- Scope- Development methods- Presentation of

recommendations

Need to understand this to use available guidelines effectively

“Hierarchy” of reporting guidelines

Recommendations RGs Frequency of RGs

Broad GENERIC Few RGs

Narrow SPECIFIC Many RGs

10

Different focus of RG: study design / methodology

• Generally applicable, key methodology features, no details specific to diseases, etc.

• Generic framework for reporting key aspects of:– Main study designs / types (generic guidelines)

• Framework for a complete research paper (examples: CONSORT, STARD, STROBE)

• Framework for only a part of research study / paper (examples: CONSORT for abstracts)

– More specialised designs• Often extending the generic guidelines• Examples: CONSORT for cluster trials

– Specific methods, evaluations, analyses• Generic statistical guidelines• Cost-effectiveness analysis• Quality of life assessment

11

Core RG(“Must”)

See your handout: Structure of a medical research paper: key content elements, writing tips, and examples of RG

• Key focus is on discipline / clinical area specific issues – Different ‘degree’ of specificity

• May or may not address general methodology items

• May focus on a complete research study / paper or only on a part

• Examples– RCTs in leukaemia; longitudinal studies in

rheumatology– Economic evaluations in obstetrics

12

Different focus of RG: specific discipline / clinical area

Should be used with relevant generic methodology guidelines as they often focus only on content specifics

See your handout: Structure of a medical research paper: key content elements, writing tips, and examples of RG

Medical research paper

13

Title

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

Author, Author, Author, Author

See your handout: Structure of a medical research paper: key content elements, writing tips, and examples of RG

14

Common problems in research reporting

– Non-reporting or delayed reporting of whole studies– Omissions or misinterpretation of results in abstracts

– Omission of crucial information in the description of research methods and interventions

– Inconsistencies between study protocol (or register) and publication

– Incomplete reporting (data cannot be included in SR / MA)– Selective reporting of only some outcomes or analyses – Inadequate reporting of harms– Inadequate statistical reporting– Confusing or misleading presentation (e.g. presenting data &

graphs in confusing or misleading ways - particularly important for presenting benefits and harms)

– General misinterpretation of study findings (spin)

Met

ho

ds

an

d

Res

ult

s

Responsibilities of researchers / authors

Key principles for responsible research reporting

15

 • The research being reported should have been conducted in an ethical and 

responsible manner and should comply with all relevant legislation. 

• Researchers should present their results clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification or inappropriate data manipulation. 

• Researchers should strive to describe their methods clearly and unambiguously so that their findings can be confirmed by others. 

• Researchers should adhere to publication requirements that submitted work is original, is not plagiarised, and has not been published elsewhere. 

• Authors should take collective responsibility for submitted and published work. 

• The authorship of research publications should accurately reflect individuals’ contributions to the work and its reporting. 

• Funding sources and relevant conflicts of interest should be disclosed.

Reproduced from the International standards for authors of scholarly publications (http://publicationethics.org/international-standards-editors-and-authors)