Checklists for reporting research in Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine: How to choose a proper one for your manuscript?

Abstract

Various guidelines for authors of research papers and the checklists that often accompany these statements play an important role in the creation of carefully written scientific papers -for authors, they serve as tools to ensure the correct structure and content of the manuscript, increasing the chances that a paper will be published in a journal with a high rejection rate. The aim of this editorial is to provide a concise outline of the checklists most frequently used to guide the structuring of papers published in Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and to support current and prospective authors of this journal in choosing a checklist for their manuscript.The EQUATOR website is presented as a useful tool in choosing a checklist: https://www.equator-network.org/. Then, 8 checklists that are most popular among authors who publish their work in Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine are outlined: STROBE -for observational studies; ARRIVE -for any area of bioscience research using laboratory animals; CASP -for qualitative studies; CONSORT -for parallel group randomized trials; PRISMA -for all reviews and meta-analyses; SQUIRE -for studies on quality improvement in healthcare; STARD -for diagnostic accuracy studies; REMARK -for tumor marker prognostic studies. Each of the 8 presented checklists is discussed in a following order: 1) the name of the checklist is explained; 2) the type of articles to which it is intended is pointed out; 3) the structure of the checklist is explained; 4) if there are any extensions of the presented checklist for specific subtypes of papers, they are listed; 5) the most important literature on the presented checklist is provided.As a take-home message, basic tips for choosing a checklist are formulated. Finally, examples of papers adhering to each discussed checklist are provided.

Comprehensive Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research–(CCQR): Reporting Guideline for Global Health Qualitative Research Methods

“…Introduction-In 11 of the selected articles [18,21,22,25,27,28,30,31,[33][34][35], the introduction section is highlighted as an important reporting criterion. Among these articles, six specifically mentioned that the aim of the study should be embedded within the introduction.…”

“…Among these articles, six specifically mentioned that the aim of the study should be embedded within the introduction. Additionally, several articles recommend including the rationale and justification of the research and clearly stating the research problem [21,22,28]. Researchers emphasized that the research question should be articulated, highlighting its relevance and connection to existing knowledge [25,31,33,34].…”

“…This includes information on the sampling technique employed, the study site, inclusion and exclusion criteria applied, and the characteristics of the sample [17,18,25,27,29,[31][32][33][34]. In a peer review by Clark [31] and an editorial paper by Misiak and Kurpas [28], the recruitment strategy of the sample that is aligned with the research objectives is discussed. Transparency in the participant selection process is emphasized by explaining the triangulation in the research report by Levitt et al [27].…”

“…Reflexivity and the characteristics of researchers themselves are suggested in 11 articles. Reflecting on the researchers' backgrounds, biases, and potential impact on the research process and findings adds transparency and credibility to the study [17,18,[25][26][27][28][29]31,33,34]. Florczak [24] highlights that the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) and qualitative research standards by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), tailored for evaluating qualitative research, have specific objectives in his discussion paper about reflexivity.…”

“…Finally, adherence to reporting guidelines and the commitment to transparency throughout the research process are highlighted. Specifically, the mention of specific reporting guidelines or other relevant standards ensures comprehensive and transparent reporting of the methodology and findings, as highlighted in an editorial paper by Misiak and Kurpas [28]. Selecting a checklist before writing the paper is ideal and will ensure the article has a proper structure and content.…”