title: What is the impact of reporting guidelines on Public Health journals in Europe? The case of STROBE, CONSORT and PRISMA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to evaluate the use of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses), CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) and STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) methods in reviews, clinical trials and observational studies, respectively, which were published in European journals within the field of Public Health (PH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Papers published between 2010 and 2013 in seven PH journals were evaluated. The presence of the words PRISMA, STROBE and CONSORT was considered in the search criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 2355 of 3456 retrieved articles were included: 1.5% appeared to follow the guidelines. The boundaries within which the criteria were applied are 0-100% for CONSORT, 0-0.6% for STROBE and 0-37% for PRISMA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A strong heterogeneity in the application of guideline statements was observed. A common agreement among journals regarding research-reporting methodologies could improve the quality of PH research publishing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00187 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mannocci
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00187 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saulle
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00187 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colamesta
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00187 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Aguanno
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00187 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Guglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giraldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00187 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maffongelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00187 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meggiolaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00187 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Leda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Semyonov
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00187 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Brigid
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Unim
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00187 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Torre
mesh_terms: D035081:Editorial Policies; D005060:Europe; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D011634:Public Health
keywords: action research; public health; research