title: Reporting Quality of Observational Studies in Plastic Surgery Needs Improvement: A Systematic Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our objective was to determine the compliance of observational studies in plastic surgery with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement checklist.
  
  
  METHODS
  All cohort, cross-sectional, and case-control studies published in five major plastic surgery journals in 2013 were assessed for their compliance with the STROBE statement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred thirty-six studies were identified initially and 94 met the inclusion criteria. The average STROBE score was 12.4 (range, 2-20.1) with a standard deviation of 3.36. The most frequent reporting deficiencies were not reporting the study design in the title and abstract 30% compliance; describing the setting, locations, and relevant dates, including periods of recruitment, exposure, follow-up, and data collection (24%); describing efforts to address sources of bias (20%); reporting numbers of individuals at each stage of the study (20%); and discussing limitations (40%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reporting quality of observational studies in Plastic Surgery needs improvement. We suggest ways this could be improved including better education, awareness among all stakeholders, and hardwiring compliance through electronic journal submission systems.
authors: From the *Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Wakefield; †Southampton Medical School, Southampton; ‡Bart's and the Royal London Medical School, London, United Kingdom; and §Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors: Riaz Ahmed
authors: RA
authors: Agha
authors: Seon-Young
authors: SY
authors: Lee
authors: Kyung Jin Lee
authors: KJ
authors: Jeong
authors: Alexander J
authors: AJ
authors: Fowler
authors: Dennis P
authors: DP
authors: Orgill
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000592:standards*