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Reporting Guidelines: CONSORT, PRISMA & STROBE Explained

DE By Directive Editorial Team, Directive Publications ·17 Jul 2026 ·6 min read

In short: Reporting guidelines are checklists that tell you the minimum information your study type should report. Using the right one — CONSORT, PRISMA, STROBE or another — makes your paper complete, transparent and easier to review and reproduce.

Why reporting guidelines matter

Incomplete reporting is a common reason research cannot be trusted or reproduced. Reporting guidelines solve this by specifying what to include, which supports research integrity and reproducibility. Many journals — including ours — expect the relevant guideline to be followed, and our author guidelines ask you to name the one you used.

The EQUATOR Network

The EQUATOR Network is a free, comprehensive library of reporting guidelines with checklists and flow diagrams for most study designs. Start there to find the right guideline for your work.

The three you will meet most often

CONSORT — randomised controlled trials

CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) covers how to report a randomised trial: the design, randomisation, participant flow (with a flow diagram), outcomes and harms. Trials should also be prospectively registered.

PRISMA — systematic reviews and meta-analyses

PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) covers how to report the search, screening and synthesis in a systematic review, including the PRISMA flow diagram showing how studies were selected.

STROBE — observational studies

STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology) covers cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies — the setting, participants, variables, statistical methods and results.

Other common guidelines

  • CARE — case reports;
  • ARRIVE — animal research;
  • SPIRIT — trial protocols;
  • STARD — diagnostic accuracy studies.

How to use a reporting guideline

  1. Identify your study design and find the matching guideline on EQUATOR.
  2. Use the checklist while writing, not only at the end.
  3. Include the completed checklist (and flow diagram) with your submission if required.
  4. Cite the guideline in your Methods.

Key takeaways

  • Reporting guidelines specify what a study type must report.
  • Use CONSORT for trials, PRISMA for systematic reviews, STROBE for observational studies.
  • Find the right one on the EQUATOR Network and use it while writing.
  • They govern reporting, not study design.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a reporting guideline?
A reporting guideline is a checklist (and often a flow diagram) that specifies the minimum information a particular study type should report, so that readers can understand, appraise and reproduce the work.
Which reporting guideline do I need?
It depends on your study design: CONSORT for randomised controlled trials, PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, STROBE for observational studies, CARE for case reports, and ARRIVE for animal research. The EQUATOR Network lists guidelines for most designs.
Are reporting guidelines mandatory?
Many journals require the relevant guideline and its completed checklist at submission. Even where not mandatory, following one improves the quality and transparency of your paper.
Where do I find these guidelines?
The EQUATOR Network (equator-network.org) is a comprehensive, free library of reporting guidelines with checklists and templates for most study types.
Do reporting guidelines tell me how to design my study?
No. They govern how to report a study transparently, not how to design or conduct it. Design decisions come first; the guideline ensures you report them completely.
DE
Directive Editorial Team
Directive Publications

The editorial team at Directive Publications — an international open-access publisher of peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals.

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