Assessment of the knowledge and awareness of a sample of young researcher physicians on reporting guidelines and the EQUATOR network: A single center cross-sectional study

Year 2020, Volume: 33 Issue: 1, 1 - 6, 31.01.2020

Esra Giray Ozge Kenıs Coskun Meltem Karacaatlı Osman Hakan Gunduz İlker Yagcı

https://doi.org/10.5472/marumj.682337

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study aimed to investigate knowledge and awareness of a sample of young researcher physicians about reporting guidelines and the EQUATOR network.
Materials and Methods: One hundred young researcher physicians were enrolled for the study and evaluated using a questionnaire which assessed the level of usage and knowledge of reporting guidelines and the EQUATOR network.
Results: Thirty-eight percent of the participants were aware of the EQUATOR network. The most recognized reporting guidelines were CONSORT (32%), PRISMA (35%), and the least recognized ones were ARRIVE (12%) GRRAS (12%). The percentage of participants who were aware of the EQUATOR network and reporting guidelines were deficient. Seventy-three percent of the participants declared that they requested more information about reporting guidelines when they were asked whether they wished to be informed about reporting guidelines. There were statistically significant differences between specialists and residents regarding the level of knowledge on reporting guidelines and reporting guideline use except for PRISMA and SAMPL guidelines and their level of the desire to be informed about guidelines were similar. When participants whose publication number was above and below the mean of publications of all participants were compared, the level of reporting guidelines usage and knowledge of PRISMA, GRRAS were similar and both groups showed equal levels of desire to be informed about guidelines.
Conclusion: The use and awareness of the EQUATOR network and reporting guidelines are low among young researcher physicians. To improve the quality of manuscript writing and the acceptance rates, knowledge and awareness of the EQUATOR network and reporting guidelines should be increased among young physicians doing research.

Keywords

EQUATOR network, Reporting guidelines

References

• [1] Fuller T, Pearson M, Peters J, Anderson R. What affects authors’ and editors’ use of reporting guidelines? Findings from an online survey and qualitative interviews. PLoS ONE 2015;10:e0121585. doi: 10.1371/journal. pone.012.158.52015;10:e0121585.
• [2] Christensen R, Bliddal H, Henriksen MJAr, Therapy. Enhancing the reporting and transparency of rheumatology research: a guide to reporting guidelines. Arthritis Res Ter 2013;15:109. doi: 10.1186/ar4145.
• [3] Simera I, Kirtley S, Altman DG. Reporting clinical research: guidance to encourage accurate and transparent research reporting. Maturitas 2012;72:84-7. doi: 10.1016/j. maturitas.2012.02.012.
• [4] Popham K, Calo WA, Carpentier MY, et al. Reporting guidelines: optimal use in preventive medicine and public health. Am J Prev Med 2012;43:e31-e42. doi: 10.1016/j. amepre.2012.06.031
• [5] Chan L, Heinemann AW, Roberts J. Elevating the quality of disability and rehabilitation research: mandatory use of the reporting guidelines.Am J Occup Ther 2014;68:127-9. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2014.682004.
• [6] Rohrich RJ, Weinstein A. So, you want to improve your plastic surgery papers? Introducing PRS’friendly EQUATOR reporting guidelines. Plast Reconstr Surg 2015;136:205-8. doi: 10.1097/PRS.000.000.0000001393.
• [7] Grindlay DJ, Dean RS, Christopher MM, Brennan ML. A survey of the awareness, knowledge, policies and views of veterinary journal Editors-in-Chief on reporting guidelines for publication of research. BMC Vet Res 2014;10 doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-10.:
• [8] Marušić A, Gasparyan AY, Kitas GD. Promoting transparent and accurate reporting of research studies in rheumatology: Endorsement of reporting guidelines in rheumatology journals. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2013;43:288-91. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2013.01.005
• [9] Kunath F, Grobe HR, Ruecker G, Engehausen D, Antes G, Wullich B. Do journals publishing in the field of urology endorse reporting guidelines? A survey of author instructions. Urol Int 2012;88:54-9. doi: 10.1159/000332742
• [10] Öncel EK, Başaranoğlu ST, Aykaç K, Kömürlüoğlu A, Akman AÖ, Kıran S. Knowledge and awareness of optimal use of reporting guidelines in paediatricians: A cross-sectional study. Turk Pediatri Ars 2018;53:163-8. doi: 10.5152/ TurkPediatriArs.2018.6167
• [11] Gasparyan AY, Yessirkepov M, Voronov AA, Koroleva AM, Kitas GD. Updated editorial guidance for quality and reliability of research output. J Korean Med Sci 2018;33:e247. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e247. e