title: Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology for respondent-driven sampling studies: "STROBE-RDS" statement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is a new data collection methodology used to estimate characteristics of hard-to-reach groups, such as the HIV prevalence in drug users. Many national public health systems and international organizations rely on RDS data. However, RDS reporting quality and available reporting guidelines are inadequate. We carried out a systematic review of RDS studies and present Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology for RDS Studies (STROBE-RDS), a checklist of essential items to present in RDS publications, justified by an explanation and elaboration document.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the MEDLINE (1970-2013), EMBASE (1974-2013), and Global Health (1910-2013) databases to assess the number and geographical distribution of published RDS studies. STROBE-RDS was developed based on STROBE guidelines, following Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting Guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RDS has been used in over 460 studies from 69 countries, including the USA (151 studies), China (70), and India (32). STROBE-RDS includes modifications to 12 of the 22 items on the STROBE checklist. The two key areas that required modification concerned the selection of participants and statistical analysis of the sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STROBE-RDS seeks to enhance the transparency and utility of research using RDS. If widely adopted, STROBE-RDS should improve global infectious diseases public health decision making.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK. Electronic address: richard.white@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Avi J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Office of Population Research, Princeton University.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Salganik
authors.affiliation: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Spiller
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, USA; Global Health Science, University of California San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saude Comunitaria, Universidade Federal do Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ligia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.affiliation: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.affiliation: World Bank, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Orroth
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social & Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egger
authors.affiliation: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hladik
mesh_terms: D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D006801:Humans; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Biomedical research/methods; Cross-sectional studies; Epidemiologic research design; Epidemiologic studies; Guidelines as topic; Guidelines as topic/standards; Humans; Observation/methods; Practice guidelines as topic; Publishing/standards; Research design