Guidelines for Reporting Oral Epidemiologic Studies to Inform Burden Estimation (GROESBE)

Area of Science:

• Oral epidemiology
• Public health research
• Biostatistics

Background:

• High-quality oral epidemiology studies are crucial for disease burden estimation and public health planning.
• Existing systematic reviews reveal inadequate reporting and inconsistency in oral health studies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
• Standardized reporting is needed to ensure the reliability and comparability of oral health data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Guidelines for Reporting Oral Epidemiologic Studies to Inform Burden Estimation (GROESBE).
• To standardize and improve the reporting of descriptive oral epidemiologic studies, focusing on prevalence and incidence.
• To enhance transparency, clarity, and comparability of scientific reporting for common oral conditions.

Main Methods:

• Extension of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.
• Development of GROESBE guidelines and checklist through a formal consultation process with 23 international experts.
• Inclusion of 14 specific recommendations beyond existing STROBE guidelines.

Main Results:

• The GROESBE guidelines provide specific recommendations for reporting oral epidemiologic studies.
• The guidelines address elements not covered by STROBE, enhancing reporting quality.
• The developed checklist facilitates adherence to the new reporting standards.

Conclusions:

• GROESBE guidelines will improve the reliability and comparability of prevalence and incidence data for untreated caries, severe periodontitis, and edentulism worldwide.
• These guidelines will support robust evidence synthesis for future Global Burden of Disease studies.
• Adoption of GROESBE will lead to more accurate estimation of oral disease burden and better inform public health interventions.