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Using STROBE checklist to assess the reporting quality of observational studies affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, and its correlates: a scientometric study from Iran

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Abstract

The reporting quality of Observational Studies (OSs) is an important measure of their overall quality. We aim to assess the reporting quality of OSs of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) in Iran in the years 2012–2015, using Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies checklist. Systematic online search was performed. A random sample of SUMS affiliated published articles was selected. Articles were appraised and scored by two reviewers. Variables such as the study design, publication year, journals’ impact factor etc. were retrieved and their correlation with the articles’ scores was assessed. Out of 4297 published articles during 2012–2015, 1742 (40.5%) were OSs of which we assessed 171 (~ 10%) studies. Among these, 87 (50.9%), 74 (43.3%) and 10 (5.8%) articles had a cross-sectional, case–control and cohort design, respectively. Overall score of the reporting quality was 79% ± 0.01. It was at 81% ± 0.1, 77% ± 0.01 and 83% ± 0.02 for cross-sectional, case–control and cohort studies, respectively. A significant correlation was observed between the study design and the score for the reporting quality (P = 0.015). Reporting of “flow-diagram” (5%), “sources of bias” (28%) and “study size calculation” (30%) were the most missed items. Although the overall reporting quality of OSs was found to be at an acceptable rate, there are points of concern regarding some of the most important items that deserve the attention of authors as well as reviewers and editors.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Mr. H. Argasi at the Research Consultation Center (RCC) of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences for his invaluable assistance in editing this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MPH Department, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Negin Rahmani & Hossein Molavi Vardanjani

  2. Institute for Cancer Research, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Negin Rahmani

  3. Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Alireza Salehi

  4. Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

    Maryam Marzban

  5. MPH Department, Student Research Committee, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Arezoo Behbood

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  1. Negin Rahmani
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  2. Alireza Salehi
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Correspondence to Alireza Salehi.

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Rahmani, N., Salehi, A., Molavi Vardanjani, H. et al. Using STROBE checklist to assess the reporting quality of observational studies affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, and its correlates: a scientometric study from Iran. Scientometrics 122, 989–1001 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-019-03317-3

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