Plan with the checklist
Use guideline items before drafting, not only before submission.
Methods & reporting
Scientific Governance
Clear reporting is not decoration. It is part of the scientific method.
Editorial position
Guidelines protect interpretation.
Reporting guidelines help authors show what was planned, done, measured, analyzed, and concluded. They reduce ambiguity and make peer review more precise.
The correct guideline depends on the study design. A trial, a systematic review, an observational study, a diagnostic study, and an animal experiment do not require the same reporting structure.
Guideline index
Core frameworks
| Study type | Guideline | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Randomized trials | CONSORT · SPIRIT | Intervention trials and protocols. |
| Observational studies | STROBE | Cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies. |
| Systematic reviews | PRISMA | Evidence synthesis and meta-analysis. |
| Diagnostic accuracy | STARD | Diagnostic accuracy studies. |
| Prediction models | TRIPOD+AI | Models, prognostic tools, and AI reporting. |
| Animal studies | ARRIVE | Preclinical and in vivo experiments. |
| Economic evaluation | CHEERS | Health economic analyses. |
Map the evidence
Place each required item where the reader can actually find it.
Review with structure
Use reporting items to make comments precise, fair, and actionable.