The checklist for administrative and research databases-related studies: The ChARDS

Retrospective healthcare databases are emerging sources for clinical research. However, there has been no standardized checklist to ensure the accurate acquisition and reporting of this data. We consulted experts, statisticians and searched for digital databases to develop a comprehensive checklist with a focus on the issues specific to studies performed on retrospective databases. The ChARDS (Checklist for Administrative and Research Databases related Studies) was developed that consists of 8 sections, 19 sub-sections, and 57 questions. The major areas covered by the ChARDS include providing information on the data sources and guiding writing by simulating the headings of a manuscript. The ChARDS is designed to question authors on the need for the study, the relevance of the topic in light of prior literature, research design, selection of the sample, eligibility of participants, standardization of outcomes, appropriateness of statistical models, interpretation of data, resource valuation, reliability and reproducibility of results, and validity and generalization of key findings to the general population. The ChARDS intends to provide authors with a roadmap on the structured reporting of data and enable decision-makers to evaluate its suitability for publication.