Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Core outcome sets (COS) can enhance the relevance of research by ensuring that outcomes of importance to health service users and other people making choices about health care in a particular topic area are measured routinely. Over 200 COS to date have been developed, but the clarity of these reports is suboptimal. COS studies will not achieve their goal if reports of COS are not complete and transparent. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In recognition of these issues, an international group that included experienced COS developers, methodologists, journal editors, potential users of COS (clinical trialists, systematic reviewers, and clinical guideline developers), and patient representatives developed the Core Outcome Set-STAndards for Reporting (COS-STAR) Statement as a reporting guideline for COS studies. The developmental process consisted of an initial reporting item generation stage and a two-round Delphi survey involving nearly 200 participants representing key stakeholder groups, followed by a consensus meeting. The COS-STAR Statement consists of a checklist of 18 items considered essential for transparent and complete reporting in all COS studies. The checklist items focus on the introduction, methods, results, and discussion section of a manuscript describing the development of a particular COS. A limitation of the COS-STAR Statement is that it was developed without representative views of low- and middle-income countries. COS have equal relevance to studies conducted in these areas, and, subsequently, this guideline may need to evolve over time to encompass any additional challenges from developing COS in these areas. CONCLUSIONS: With many ongoing COS studies underway, the COS-STAR Statement should be a helpful resource to improve the reporting of COS studies for the benefit of all COS users.
Source: PLoS Medicine
Institutions: University of Liverpool, University of Oxford, University of Bristol, Queen's University Belfast, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway, Trials Methodology Research Network, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Zentrum für Evidenzbasierte Gesundheitsversorgung, Technische Universität Dresden, University of Ottawa, Center for Medical Technology Policy
Language: English
Topic: Delphi Technique in Research
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,460
Funders: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Minnesota, Loyola University Chicago, University of Washington, McGill University, Shandong University, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Health Research Board, Sidra Medicine, Cancer Research UK, National Institute for Health and Care Research, University of Warwick, University of Bath, University of Bristol, Trinity College Dublin, Universitat de València, Tampereen Yliopisto, Universidad de Chile, Université François-Rabelais, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Medical Research Council
OpenAlex ID: W2534322213