An Essential Resource for Authors: Reporting Guidelines

By Marilyn Oermann, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

Writer’s Camp Counselor

Guidelines help with accuracy and completeness.

Have you ever read an article that was missing information about the background and literature, methodology, or outcomes presented? In reading the summary of the literature, were you clear about the databases searched and keywords? Did the article describe with enough detail the setting in which the study or project took place and procedures used by the authors? Based on the article, could you replicate the study in your own setting? If you have come across any of these situations, read on.

What Are Reporting Guidelines?

Reporting guidelines are checklists of the minimum information you should include in a manuscript based on the research methodology you used. The goal of these guidelines is to increase the transparency of the research report and ensure it is complete.1 By using reporting guidelines, you can check that you have addressed key information in your manuscript for authors to understand what was done, how the study or project was implemented, and its outcomes. Reporting guidelines help ensure that the study design and its aims, methods, and results are accurately and clearly reported by authors and the description is complete: guidelines minimize bias, improve reproducibility, and promote transparency in the report of the research.2 Poorly reported studies can lead to misunderstandings by readers and affect outcomes of systematic reviews conducted on the topic.

Some nursing journals indicate in the author information that reporting guidelines should be used in preparing the manuscript for submission. For example, the International Journal of Nursing Studies states that authors should prepare the paper using a “recognized reporting guideline” related to the research methodology or type of paper, and the journal refers authors to the EQUATOR Network ( https://www.equator-network.org/ ) to identify an appropriate guideline.

The EQUATOR Network is a portal with 655 guidelines to improve the reporting of research, evidence syntheses, quality improvement (QI) studies, protocols, and case studies, among many others. Some nursing journals have authors complete the checklist related to the reporting guideline they used for the study or project and upload it with the submission.

Important Reporting Guidelines for Nurse Authors

Of the hundreds of reporting guidelines that are available, I recommend becoming knowledgeable about the guidelines included in Table 1, which are particularly relevant to the types of research, evidence syntheses, and projects done in nursing. Table 1 also includes the website of each of the guidelines so you can learn more about them and access the related checklist and other documents such as a flow diagram. An example of an article from a nursing journal where the guideline was used is also provided.

Table 1. Key Reporting Guidelines for Nurse Authors

Guideline with Website URL Statement in Article
 Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) Statement includes a checklist and flow diagram for reporting a randomized controlled trial (RCT). CONSORT was published first in 1996, and then updated in 2001, 2010, and 2025. https://www.consort-spirit.org/copy-of-home The aim was to assess the impact of web-based educational programs on improving awareness of climate change, climate activism, and pro-environmental behavior of primary health care rural nurses. “A randomized controlled trial (RCT) design adhered to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines and was conducted between September 2023 and January 2024. To enhance methodological transparency, the assessors were blinded to group allocation, while participants were aware of their assignment. This single-masked approach was implemented to minimize assessment bias while ensuring practical feasibility.”3
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guides the reporting of systematic reviews. PRISMA 2020 is accompanied by multiple PRISMA extensions ( https://www.prisma-statement.org/extensions ) for reporting different types of systematic reviews and other evidence syntheses. PRISMA includes checklists, a flow diagram, and other resources. https://www.prisma-statement.org/ The aim was to conduct a systematic review to synthesize evidence on the use of escape rooms in nursing education. “A mixed methods systematic review was conducted. An a priori protocol and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were used to guide and report the findings of this review.”4  
Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE) are used for reporting QI studies and initiatives. There are 2 SQUIRE extensions: one to describe initiatives to improve health professions education (SQUIRE-EDU) and the other for reporting simulation-based QI (SQUIRE SIM). https://www.squire-statement.org/ “This study adopted a Q-methodological design to explore the patterns of shared perspectives on oncology care needs and symptom experiences of women with gynecologic cancer. The study adhered to SQUIRE 2.0 (Standards for QUality Improvement Reporting Excellence).”5  
Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) are designed for reporting observational research including multiple types of studies. Checklists are available for reporting cohort, case-control, and cross sectional studies, and for describing these studies in a conference abstract. https://www.strobe-statement.org/ The aim was to examine the death coping ability, death attitude, and professional quality of life of geriatric nurses, analyze factors influencing death coping ability, and explore correlations among them. “A multicentre cross-sectional study design was used and reported according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist.”6
Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) are guidelines for reporting qualitative research using interviews and focus groups. https://academic.oup.com/intqhc/article-abstract/19/6/349/1791966?redirectedFrom=fulltext The aim was to evaluate the scope and quality of nurse-patient interactions reported in the clinical notes for patients on inpatient mental health units and to identify nursing interventions in the context of the nurse-patient relationship. “Findings were reported using COREQ and STROBE guidelines.”7
Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) include 21 items to ensure complete reporting of qualitative studies. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/fulltext/2014/09000/Standards_for_Reporting_Qualitative_Research__A.21.aspx The aim was to evaluate health care professionals’ perspectives on factors that lead to success in implementing strategies to improve evidence-based surgical nursing care. This was a qualitative study design with focus group interviews. The study “adhered to the SRQR guidelines.”8
Case Reports (CARE) guidelines improve the accuracy, transparency, and value of case reports: what works and for which patients and circumstances. https://www.care-statement.org/ “The case report [on a 37-year-old woman in her second pregnancy with cervical cancer] was prepared based on CARE guidelines for medical case reporting.”9  
Two guidelines for reporting protocols are the: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P), which includes a checklist ( https://www.prisma-statement.org/protocols ) and the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT), which includes a checklist and figure ( https://spirit-statement.org/spirit-statement/ )       The aim is to determine the effects of the macronutrient content of breast milk on the anthropometric measurements of infants through their first 6 months. “The study protocol has been published in PROSPERO (CRD42023425550). This study adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guideline. Studies published between January 1, 2016, and June 2, 2023, were reviewed across 6 databases. The Joanna Briggs Institute Cohort Studies checklist was used to assess methodological quality.”10

Guidelines are continuing to be developed to improve the completeness and transparency of newer types of research. For example, there are 18 guidelines on the EQUATOR Network for reporting studies involving artificial intelligence and large language models. A growing number of bibliometric analyses (that evaluate the characteristics of a field based on its published works) are being done in nursing. A Guidance List for the Reporting of Bibliometric Analyses (GLOBAL) has been developed recently for disseminating bibliometric analyses and is available as a preprint on medRxiv.11

Use of Reporting Guidelines in Nursing

Benefits of using reporting guidelines have been discussed for years, but too few authors including nurse authors use them. Vong et al.12 analyzed 444 articles to examine the quality of reporting qualitative research in nursing related to the COVID-19 pandemic. They found limited use of reporting guidelines and recommended nurse researchers adhere to these guidelines to improve the descriptions of their research. Many nurse authors are familiar with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Carlos Torres et al.13 analyzed 215 systematic reviews in 10 nursing journals and found key areas from the 2020 PRISMA14 statement not addressed in these articles.

Conclusion

Finding the relevant reporting guideline when you are ready to write your manuscript is too late. You should use these guidelines when you are developing your study and project or prior to beginning your evidence synthesis, not when you are writing your manuscript. Without using these guidelines at the start, you may not have followed them when you planned and implemented the study or never recorded the information you need when writing the manuscript. A few nursing journals require authors to provide a completed version of the reporting checklist when they submit their manuscript. Get this checklist before you start and use it to develop your study and record relevant information as you go along. Save all of the information in a file so you have it available for your manuscript at the end. Don’t wait: familiarize yourself with reporting guidelines now to be ready for your next study or project.

References

  1. Diong J, Bye E, Djajadikarta Z, Butler AA, Gandevia SC, Héroux ME. Encouraging responsible reporting practices in the Instructions to Authors of neuroscience and physiology journals: there is room to improve. PLoS One. 2023;18(3):e0283753. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0283753
  2. Caulley L, Catalá-López F, Whelan J, et al. Reporting guidelines of health research studies are frequently used inappropriately. J Clin Epidemiol. 2020;122:87-94. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.03.006
  3. Atta MHR, AbdELhay ES, AbdELhay IS, et al. Effectiveness of a web-based educational program on climate change awareness, climate activism, and pro-environmental behavior among primary health care in rural areas: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Nurs. 2025;24(1):449. doi:10.1186/s12912-025-03031-x
  4. Zhao X, Brand G, Kovach N, Bonnamy J. Escape rooms in nursing education: a systematic review. Nurse Educ. 2024;49(5):E238-E243. doi:10.1097/NNE.0000000000001641
  5. Yu SC, Guo JL, Sun CH, Chang CH, Chen SF, Huang CM. Patterns of perspectives on oncology healthcare needs among women with gynecologic cancer: a Q-methodology study. Cancer Nurs. Published online February 17, 2025. doi:10.1097/NCC.0000000000001474
  6. Liu W, Su YJ, Zhou SJ, et al. Death coping ability, death attitude, and professional quality of life among geriatric nurses: a multicentre cross-sectional study. BMC Palliat Care. 2025;24(1):117. doi:10.1186/s12904-025-01754-x
  7. Pérez-Toribio A, Moreno-Poyato AR, Lluch-Canut MT, et al. The nurse-patient relationship in nursing documentation: the scope and quality of interactions and prevalent interventions in inpatient mental health units. J Nurs Manag. 2024;2024:7392388. doi:10.1155/2024/7392388
  8. Härle K, Wennerholm C, Drott J. Evaluating the implementation of strategies to improve evidence-based surgical care: a focus group study. J Adv Nurs. Published online April 24, 2025. doi:10.1111/jan.16988
  9. Szablewska AW, Zdun-Ryżewska A. Longitudinal assessment of fatigue in pregnancy complicated by cervical cancer: a prospective case study and implications for nursing and midwifery practice. Nurs Rep. 2025;15(3):108. doi:10.3390/nursrep15030108
  10. Çınar N, Kaya Ö, Tecik S, et al. Breast milk macronutrient content and its effects on infant anthropometric measurements in the first 6 months: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. Published online February 3, 2025. doi:10.1097/JPN.0000000000000903
  11. Ng JY, Liu H, Masood M. et al. Guidance for the reporting of bibliometric analyses: a scoping review. medRxiv. 2024.08.26.24312538; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.26.24312538
  12. Vong II, Rothan-Tondeur M, Nohra RG. Characteristics and quality of reporting qualitative nursing research related to the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic search and critical review. BMC Nurs. 2024;23(1):498. doi:10.1186/s12912-024-02138-x
  13. Carlo Torres G, Ledbetter L, Cantrell S, et al. Adherence to PRISMA 2020 reporting guidelines and scope of systematic reviews published in nursing: a cross-sectional analysis. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2024;56(4):531-541. doi:10.1111/jnu.12969
  14. PRISMA 2020 statement —. (n.d.). PRISMA Statement. Retrieved May 9, 2025, from https://www.prisma-statement.org/prisma-2020-statement

    ©2025 by Writer’s Camp and Marilyn Oermann CC-BY-ND 4.0

Author: Marilyn Oermann

Editor: Leslie H. Nicoll

Citation: Oermann M. An Essential Resource for Authors: Reporting Guidelines. The Writer’s Camp Journal. 2025;1(1):5. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15389180

 

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