title: Explanation and Elaboration of the Standards of Reporting of Neurological Disorders Checklist: A Guideline for the Reporting of Incidence and Prevalence Studies in Neuroepidemiology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Incidence and prevalence studies of neurological disorders play an extremely important role in hypothesis-generation, assessing the burden of disease and planning of health services. However, the assessment of disease estimates is hindered by the poor quality of reporting for such studies. We developed the Standards of Reporting of Neurological Disorders (STROND) guideline in order to improve the quality of reporting of neurological disorders from which prevalence, incidence, and outcomes can be extracted for greater generalisability.
  
  
  METHODS
  The guideline was developed using a 3-round Delphi technique in order to identify the 'basic minimum items' important for reporting, as well as some additional 'ideal reporting items.' An e-consultation process was then used in order to gauge opinion by external neuroepidemiological experts on the appropriateness of the items included in the checklist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The resultant 15 items checklist and accompanying recommendations were developed using a similar process and structured in a similar manner to the Strengthening of the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist for ease of use. This paper presents the STROND checklist with an explanation and elaboration for each item, as well as examples of good reporting from the neuroepidemiological literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The introduction and use of the STROND checklist should lead to more consistent, transparent and contextualised reporting of descriptive neuroepidemiological studies that should facilitate international comparisons, and lead to more accessible information for multiple stakeholders, ultimately supporting better healthcare decisions for neurological disorders.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Derrick A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brayne
authors.forename: Valery L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Feigin
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barker-Collo
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brainin
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jetté
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karch
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kurtzke
authors.forename: Pablo M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lavados
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Logroscino
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.forename: Pierre-Marie
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Preux
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Rothwell
authors.forename: Lawrence W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Svenson
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist / Q000592:standards*; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence