Which of the following is a common guideline used for reporting randomized controlled trials?

PGICH Noida NO-2025

Nursing Research & Statistics

Easy

Appeared in: PGICH Noida NO-2025

Explanation

CONSORT stands for CONsolidated Standards of Reporting Trials.
It is an evidence-based, minimum set of recommendations specifically designed for reporting randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
The purpose of CONSORT is to improve the quality and transparency of trial reporting, which helps readers understand the trial's design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation.
Adherence to CONSORT guidelines is required by many leading medical and nursing journals.

Option A: STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) is the guideline for non-experimental, observational studies.
Option B: MOOSE (Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) is a more specialized guideline used for reporting meta-analyses of observational studies, not primary trials.
Option D: PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) is used for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which synthesize evidence from multiple studies (including RCTs).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Reporting guidelines for clinical research as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
For nurses to practice evidence-based care, they must be able to critically appraise research. Knowing the correct reporting guideline helps a nurse assess if a study has reported all necessary information to judge its validity and applicability.
When evaluating a new intervention, a nurse manager might look for a well-reported RCT that follows CONSORT guidelines to ensure the evidence is robust before implementing a change in practice.
What if? If a nurse is looking for the highest level of evidence on a topic, they might search for a systematic review. In that case, they would assess the quality of the review based on its adherence to PRISMA guidelines, not CONSORT.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question stem: 'guideline' and 'randomized controlled trials (RCTs)'.
The question asks for a specific reporting standard for a particular type of experimental study.
Next, consider the options provided, which are all acronyms for different reporting guidelines.
Recall or deduce the meaning of each acronym and the type of study it applies to.
Match the guideline with the study type. CONSORT is specifically for Randomized Controlled Trials.
Eliminate the other options by confirming they apply to different study designs: STROBE for observational studies, MOOSE for meta-analyses of observational studies, and PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 NursingResearch Polit 11e Part 2 pp. 318-320, 319-321