GoodReports: developing a website to help health researchers find and use reporting guidelines

• DOI: 10.1186/s12874-021-01402-x
• Publication Date: 2021-10-17T07:05:35Z
• Authors: Caroline Struthers; James Harwood; Jennifer Anne de ...; Paula Dhiman; Patricia Logullo; Michael Schlüssel
• Keywords: Standards; Medicine (General); Research; Writing; Reporting guidelines; Reproducibility; Education; Checklist; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; R5-920; 0302 clinical medicine; Behavior Therapy; Research Design; Humans; Software

Abstract Background Th EQUATOR Network improves the quality and transparency in health research, primarily by promoting awareness use of reporting guidelines. In 2018, UK Centre launched GoodReports.org , a website that helps authors find This paper describes tool’s development so far. We describe user experience behaviour using both inside outside journal manuscript submission process. intend to our findings inform future testing tool. Methods conducted survey collect data on GoodReports website. cross-checked random sample 100 manuscripts submitted partner level agreement between checklist recommendation what we would have recommended. compared proportion submitting completed alongside their groups exposed or not also study comparing completeness text before an author received guideline from with subsequently journal. Results Seventy percent (423/599) respondents rated 8 more out 10 for usefulness, 74% (198/267) said they had made changes after agreed 84% (72/86) cases. Of who finder questionnaire, 14% (10/69) failed submit 30% (41/136) did 69 recommendation, 20 pairs could be reviewed GoodReports. Five included information methods section exposure On average, reported 57% necessary items completing 60% after. Conclusion The suggest guidance is needed early writing process, at stage. are developing adding guidelines creating editable article templates. will test whether users write complete reports randomised trial targeting researchers starting research articles.