Occupational Epidemiology/Research tools/Theoretical Program - open here/How to start and complete research projects - methodology/Structure for writing the article (Strobe) 1

STROBE Statement—Checklist of items that should be included in reports of cross-sectional studies

Title page

• Article title
• Authors
• Affiliations
• Correspondence, name, email, affiliation

Abstract

150-250 words

Introduction Background/rationale

• Explain the scientific background and rationale for the investigation being reported

Research question and objectives

• State the research questions, objectives and any prespecified hypotheses

Methods and materials

Study design

• Present key elements of study design early in the paper

Setting

• Describe the setting, locations, and relevant dates, including periods of recruitment, exposure, follow-up, and data collection

Participants

• (a) Give the eligibility criteria, and the sources and methods of selection of participants

Variables

• Clearly define all outcomes, exposures, predictors, potential confounders, and effect modifiers. Give diagnostic criteria, if applicable *Give information separately for exposed and unexposed groups.

Data sources/ measurement

• For each variable of interest, give sources of data and details of methods of assessment (measurement). Describe comparability of assessment methods if there is more than one group

Bias

• Describe any efforts to address potential sources of bias

Study size

• Explain how the study size was arrived at
• Quantitative variables
• Explain how quantitative variables were handled in the analyses. If applicable, describe which groupings were chosen and why

Statistical methods

• a) Describe all statistical methods, including those used to control for confounding
• (b) Describe any methods used to examine subgroups and interactions
• (c) Explain how missing data were addressed
• (d) If applicable, describe analytical methods taking account of sampling strategy
• (e) Describe any sensitivity analyses

Cronograma

De cuándo se realizó el estudio y dónde

Results

Participants

• (a) Report numbers of individuals at each stage of study—eg numbers potentially eligible, examined for eligibility, confirmed eligible, included in the study, completing follow-up, and analysed
• (b) Give reasons for non-participation at each stage
• (c) Consider use of a flow diagram

Descriptive data

• (a) Give characteristics of study participants (eg demographic, clinical, social) and information on exposures and potential confounders
• (b) Indicate number of participants with missing data for each variable of interest

Outcome data

• Report numbers of outcome events or summary measures

Main results

• (a) Give unadjusted estimates and, if applicable, confounder-adjusted estimates and their precision (eg, 95% confidence interval). Make clear which confounders were adjusted for and why they were included
• (b) Report category boundaries when continuous variables were categorized
• (c) If relevant, consider translating estimates of relative risk into absolute risk for a meaningful time period

Other analyses

• Report other analyses done—eg analyses of subgroups and interactions, and sensitivity analyses

Discussion

Key results

Summarise key results with reference to study objectives

Limitations

• Discuss limitations of the study, taking into account sources of potential bias or imprecision. Discuss both direction and magnitude of any potential bias

Interpretation

• Give a cautious overall interpretation of results considering objectives, limitations, multiplicity of analyses, results from similar studies, and other relevant evidence

Generalisability

• Discuss the generalisability (external validity) of the study results

Conclusions

What was found and what is the answer to the research question.

Recommendations

• For prevention and new studies

Funding

Give the source of funding and the role of the funders for the present study and, if applicable, for the original study on which the present article is based

References

Note: An Explanation and Elaboration article discusses each checklist item and gives methodological background and published examples of transparent reporting. The STROBE checklist is best used in conjunction with this article (freely available on the Web sites of PLoS Medicine at http://www.plosmedicine.org/, Annals of Internal Medicine at http://www.annals.org/, and Epidemiology at http://www.epidem.com/). Information on the STROBE Initiative is available at www.strobe-statement.org.