Reporting experiments in homeopathic basic research (REHBaR)--a detailed guideline for authors

Area of Science:

• Homeopathy
• Basic Research
• Scientific Reporting

Background:

• Comprehensive reporting of homeopathic experiments is crucial.
• No established guidelines currently exist for authors in this field.
• Existing criteria catalogues are common in clinical research but not basic research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a guideline for reporting experiments in homeopathic basic research.
• To establish a minimum quality standard for homeopathic basic research.
• To aid authors and scientific journals in manuscript preparation and review.

Main Methods:

• A Delphi Process involving European researchers was conducted.
• The process included five rounds: three for adjustments and phrasing, and two consensus conferences.
• Researchers involved had published experimental work within the last five years.

Main Results:

• A 23-item checklist, supplemented with detailed examples, was created.
• The checklist specifies requirements for introduction, materials and methods, results, and discussion sections.
• Key areas emphasized include controls, experimental setup, replication, blinding, and statistical methods.

Conclusions:

• The guideline for Reporting Experiments in Homeopathic Basic Research (REHBaR) has been compiled.
• REHBaR aims to improve the quality and transparency of homeopathic basic research.
• Feedback is encouraged for future revisions and to assess the guideline's applicability.