Reporting guidelines can be used to foster reporting of evidence-based research principles: a cross-sectional study

The purpose of our study was to examine the presence and the extent of items related to an evidence-based research (EBR) approach in reporting guidelines, as well as their features and how these items were implemented. We evaluated whether protocol and complete report guidelines make sufficient/any recommendations to foster EBR.

This cross-sectional study included the most recent version of any reporting guideline that included a checklist published on the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research (EQUATOR) Network website. Only guidelines that were applicable to the whole report were included. Two authors independently screened the guidelines and extracted data on whether the checklist and its accompanying article(s) incorporated EBR principles, including justification for a new study, optimal design of a relevant and necessary new study, contextualization of new results in relation to earlier studies, and whether they defined prior evidence.

Of 635 checklists published on the EQUATOR website as of August 1, 2024, we analyzed 219 pertaining to the whole report. Among these, nine (4.1%) checklists included items addressing EBR for justifying a new study, seven (3.2%) for optimally designing a relevant and necessary new study, and three (1.4%) for placing new results in the context of earlier research. The corresponding figures in accompanying articles were 5 (2.3%), 2 (0.9%), and 2 (0.9%), respectively.

Currently, the majority of reporting guidelines do not explicitly incorporate EBR principles. Core EBR principles are applied primarily at the design phase of the research, where protocol guidance plays a critical upstream role. The reporting guidelines can complement this by requesting transparent reporting, particularly contextualization of results. To better support EBR and reduce research waste, it is essential to strengthen protocol guidance, align standards across protocols and final reports, and improve the uptake and implementation of these guidelines during the planning stages of research.